BUILD A BRIDGE

The Editor,
The Anguillian

Dear Editor:

BUILD A BRIDGE
In recent days I was unable to drive through the Queen Elizabeth Avenue because of the deep and wide settlement of water in the hollow area of the road. We do not often get the amount of rain in Anguilla and the Valley area to cause this type of flooding, but when it does happen, it becomes a nuisance to every motorist crossing the area.

Many motorists have been forced to turn back and those who ventured through the water ran the risk of getting stuck. This happened to me on one occasion when I was being driven by a friend on the first day of my arrival on the island from St. Maarten.
There is a catchment on western side of the road which has recently been extended to take care of the run-off water but the drainage is either slow or faulty. In fact the entire drainage system along the road leaves much to be desired. This is really not the best road in the Caribbean, as one of our politicians said when the opening ceremony was held some years ago.
I think there is a need to revisit this road and to do something about the drainage as well as perhaps the catchment area which holds water for some time. It is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and there seems to be no obvious plan in place for the water to be used for irrigation purposes on the adjoining farmland. What a pity! Not even water-loving and scenic banana trees are planted in the area.
I suggest that if it is not possible for the road to be raised in the particular swamp area, that some sort of a bridge is put in place so that motorists can override the problem. I see this done in St. Croix where I once lived and I don’t see why it can’t be done in Anguilla.

Adrian Rogers