SIMPSON BAY – On Wednesday evening at approximately 7.00pm, the traffic measures and signs were changed indicating that the south lane of the Simpson Bay Bridge is now closed for vehicular traffic in order for that part of the deck to be jet blasted and coated as part of the bridge refurbishment works.
Vehicular traffic will accordingly be utilizing the lagoon side traffic lane of the bridge as this side has already been coated and is in the curing phase until the coating material has completely hardened.
Jet blasting of the under deck of the bridge has nearly been completed and should be finalized Thursday evening.
The bridge has been closed to vehicular traffic for short periods of time on Wednesday night after midnight. During these closures, the bridge deck was lifted allowing for the sides under the road deck to be jet blasted and then coated. This will be continued Thursday night. Each under-side of the bridge will take about four hours, but the bridge closures will be intermittent and up to 30 minutes each.
On Friday evening, both traffic lanes of the Simpson Bay Bridge will be back in use; however this is dependent on the weather. If it rains the contractor will not be able to coat the surfaces.
The contractor carrying out the works is Hofman Sliedrecht with the assistance of other local contractors.
With only one traffic lane available for vehicular traffic on the bridge, the flow of traffic is regulated by traffic lights and motorists are asked to continue to carefully observe and follow the traffic signs along the road.
Managing Director of the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Russell Voges says that due to the constant intense vehicular movement over the bridge, the old coating on the deck was worn out and had to be replaced.
“I would like to thank all motorists and others who have to cross the bridge for their patience and endurance during this bridge rehabilitation period.
“The Lagoon Authority is very much aware of the inconvenience caused by the repairs to the road and maritime traffic and will limit this as much as possible. The Lagoon Authority apologizes for any inconvenience that this has caused and may cause in the coming days. The contractors have been working diligently and will continue to limit the inconvenience as much as possible,” Managing Director Voges pointed out.
The recommendations made by Rijkswaterstaat, (the Dutch Authority for Waterworks and Bridges) in their report of March 2007 are being executed to ensure the durability and longevity of the Simpson Bay Bridge and to ensure the safety and security of the bridge operations for all its users.
According to the planning in the work schedule, there will be a bridge opening for maritime traffic on Sunday June 28 at 6.00pm. The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority will announce when the bridge will resume its scheduled daily regularly opening hours for maritime traffic early next week depending on the progress made with the current repair works.
In the last two weeks of August, commencing August 15, contractor Hofman Sliedrecht will continue the repair works replacing the traffic barrier boxes and booms, installing new traffic lights, and installing a new electrical control cabinet for the bridge.
Any change in the opening hours of the bridge due to these scheduled repair works will be duly and timely announced.
For any further information please call the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority’s Collection Office at the Police Station in Simpson Bay next to the bridge at telno: 545 3183 or via the Police Station at telno: 545 5500/01/02/03/04/05 or call the Bridge Operator on VHF channel 12.
