BAHAMAS: Staniard Creek Bridge in Andros Completed

#Bahamas, March 19, 2021 – “The bridge at Staniard Creek is a vital transportation link for the settlement, as it is currently the only access crossing Staniard Creek. The existing three-span bridge has an open span of sixty feet with the remaining width of the creek made up with a solid causeway.

The bridge has limited headroom with boats unable to pass underneath the structure. The existing concrete bridge is in a very poor condition with severe erosion of the supports and concrete spalling to the deck. Due to the severely poor condition, a load restriction of five tons was imposed.

Accordingly, it was essential that the bridge be replaced as a matter of urgency. In addition to the poor state of the structure, its position and configuration are resulting in severe environmental damage to the area’s ecosystem.

The dam effect of the bridge/causeway caused increased sedimentation, modification to the mangroves and a decrease of the fish larvae within the creeks.

For these reasons, a decision was taken to relocate the new replacement bridge to a more favorable location, approximately 500 feet north of the existing bridge.

A series of openings are also being constructed on the approach road into the settlement to improve water flow in this area of the creek system.

The Staniard Creek Bridge project includes a number of works. The new bridge is 180 foot clear span, spanning across the entire water channel. The headroom is twelve feet at high tide.

The construction works also included: –

On the road into the settlement, the construction of five, 50 foot long bridges which will improve the water flow in the  area, allowing for the natural flushing of the creek; –

Construction of a 500 foot long sheet piled wall between the old and new bridge, to stabilize the eroded section of the road embankment between the road and the water’s edge; –

The relocation and upgrading of existing utility services in the vicinity of the works; 8 – Removal of the existing bridge and road causeway adjacent to the existing bridge; –

Dredging of the creek channel to reinstate the flow; and – The construction of a new boat ramp, gazebo and a timber dock structure.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Following a competitive tender exercise, a contract was signed in November 2019, with Bahamas Marine Construction for the construction works for the amount of Eight 9,812,929.42

The construction period was fifteen months.”

• Dr. Hubert Minnis, Bahamas Prime Minister

March 18, 2021