The Joe Taylor Bridge in Punta Gorda is finally going to be changed - but town residents were in an uproar when they hard that the MIDH had planned to utilize the Carib Reserve Road as an alternate route.
They say that would cost them an extra eight miles of travel to get to their homes and places of business.
So they asked the MIDH to reconsider a more suitable option for residents and students, and it did.
After another round of consultation, they came up with a solution to put in a fixed ferry to service small vehicles.
Voice of: Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure and Development
"And I believe we have a proposal that most of the people that had concerns are happy with them. I met with Wil Maheia this morning. I met with the neighbors that are close to the bridge. I met with the area representative, Hon. Mike Espat, the mayor of Punta Gorda, and the potential candidate, some of them for Punta Gorda Town."
"The going around to the Carib Reserve will still be an option that will be left open, and that we believe should be used for heavy cargo and buses and vehicles of that type. What we are proposing right now is to have a temporary bridge placed right beside the existing bridge, and that would be somewhat following how the military uses to cross rivers."
"It will be made of barges that will be coming out from the work that is being done at the Haulover presently. We just communicated with the contractor, and he believes that he has the necessary barges that are necessary to put in place."
"So we're looking at four barges held together on spuds, and then we have access, metal access ramps going up to the to the barge to create the temporary crossing."
Heavy vehicles and buses will have to go around.
