It's a key bridge on one of the country's major highways but the Middlesex Bridge on the Hummingbird Highway was taken out of service this week. Those passing the area are being re-directed thru a makeshift path through an orange orchard on the side of the road, which takes drivers across a tiny span of the riverbed.
It's low intensity right now because the rains have not come down, and the ministry of works hopes to have the bridge fixed by then. But it will have a 4 ton weight restriction which will prevent citrus haulers and oil tankers from using it.
A representative of the Ministry of works says those vehicles will be encouraged to use the Coastal Highway which, we'll add, has its own flooding problems. But, there's no quick fix, and the fact is that Middlesex is an old and much taxed bridge and until it is replaced or fully refitted, the problem will persist.
