Trinidad bridge being demolished after sub-standard concrete was used in construction.
Demolition of the deck of the $15.4 million St Joseph Bridge commenced late last week.
The entire deck of the bridge is being demolished in three stages after the contractor – KJS Enterprises Ltd — used an inferior concrete mixture.
The bridge along the Eastern Main Road failed stress tests after it was discovered that the strength of the concrete mixture was ten newton millimetres. The specifications for the bridge stipulated that the concrete mixture must be 30 newton millimetres to sustain the weight and capacity of vehicles in order to avoid it collapsing.
National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) chairman Dr Carson Charles placed the blame squarely on the contractor, insisting that the advice of the engineer was not heeded.
The company has not given an explanation as to why it failed to follow the specific guidelines for construction of the bridge.
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