CAPITAL PROJECTS

PROGRESS – 16^th May 2008

Well we finally reached the top of La Vallee with the new sewer pipe, fought our way through the ground water, found a way round the unexpected well in the middle of the road, and installed the new electric cables which will eventually form part of the electricity distribution network for the Island. The damaged manhole was repaired and the pipe connection remade. The trench in La Vallee is now being backfilled for the last time and Ronez are about to apply the tarmac, so at last the roads will soon be opened again and the disruption and disturbance will largely cease. Now the work enters the Vallee Gardens in a big way, and hopefully no more big problems will be encountered and the work should race through to the Island Hall. Am I tempting fate?

The sewers from Stoney Lane and Church Street are now permanently connected into the new manhole. The old sewer which runs from the Island Hall through the Vallee Gardens has also now been temporarily connected into the new one at the top of La Vallee, so that all the foul water from town now passes through the new sewer pipes. The installation of the remaining part of the new sewer through the Vallee Gardens to the Island Hall can now be achieved without disturbing the normal sewage flow. Once the new sewer is complete and connected to the existing sewer at the back of the Island Hall this temporary connection will be broken and the old sewer sealed off.

We are entering the last stages of the work now, and can see the light at the end of the tunnel. If all goes well we can expect to say “The End” by the end of June. There have been plenty of problems on the way, and there is always the possibility of more arising before we have finished, but as someone said, there is no such thing as problems, only solutions, and of course the solutions have been found by the very competent contractor.

At the Courthouse the work of renovating the Court building itself is rapidly reaching a conclusion. The additional electrical work for the new audio and recording systems is complete and the specialist equipment supplier is due here by the time this article appears. Scaffolding removal is at last proceeding and the improved face of the building will soon now be seen, to add to the very high quality appearance of all the properties in QEII Street. The Courtroom itself is now looking quite magnificent and a credit to the contractor. The painting and decorating is rapidly approaching completion and then the carpeting will add the final touches. It maybe a trifle optimistic but it is hoped to allow the first Court session of June to take place in the newly refurbished Courtroom.

CAPITAL PROJECTS

PROGRESS – 7^th May 2008

Isn’t it always the way? You think you are past all your big problems and are on a nice straight easy run for a while and WHAM, you run into another big one!

Having reached the top of La Vallee we were all looking forward to getting out of the road and to a nice easy run through the grounds of the school and the Vallee Gardens, when a rather strange and unknown Victorian brick culvert made its appearance, leaking like a sieve and pouring clean water into the trench. No one seemed to know where it was coming from or going to, except that the water appeared to end up in the little stream running in front of the houses. It had to go, as it was directly in the way of the new sewer, and when it was broken and the water was being pumped away the little stream stopped – which rather upset one or two residents. Further excavation revealed that there were apparently TWO culverts, one of which is dry, and then, of all things, a well was discovered, which had been covered over by the road and which apparently was once the source of supply to the nearby cattle trough. The good news was that when the trench was backfilled with a layer of stone the water found its way back into the stream again. The bad news was that the ground was so poor that the trench collapsed and caused severe damage to the newly installed manhole.

However, as someone said, there is no such thing as problems, only solutions, and of course a solution was found by the very competent contractor and the work of laying the sewer pipes is continuing into the school grounds and on into the Gardens. The damaged manhole will be repaired in situ in a week or so.

The cobbled road to Platte Saline has been re-cobbled and looks very smart, and we are getting near the end of the disruptive part of the job now, though it is not quite clear yet. Over the next three or four weeks the trench in Vallee will be partially reopened, the electric cable will be laid, the trench backfilled again, and then probably starting on 19 May Ronez will come along with tarmac – and that should see the roads back to normal. There will still be some heavy traffic moving about so caution is still required.

Dare it be said? With hopefully no more unforeseen obstructions, it is anticipated that the project will be completed in early June.

At the Courthouse the work of renovating the Court building itself is going well. The additional electrical work is largely complete and the specialist equipment supplier is expected shortly to install and commission the equipment. Scaffolding removal still seems to be a bit of a problem but hopefully by the time this appears it will be done. There is still quite a lot of painting to complete – it is a pretty big building – but it is “getting there”, and then there is the carpeting. When finished, which should not now be too long, it will be a smart looking building, inside and out. 

Notice of Road Closures – Vallee Sewer.

The work of renewing the main sewer is now advancing onto the public highways which will involve closure of roads to ensure safety during the construction works.

Commencing from Tuesday 8^th January 2008 Crabby Road will be closed to through traffic until approximately the end of February. Initially the road will be closed at a point just above the hospital entrance (at the top of the cobbled road leading to Fort Doyle), and the point of closure will be moved towards La Vallee junction as the work progresses.

Access will only be allowed to properties along Crabby Road itself, and then this will be limited to pedestrian access whilst the work is underway adjacent to that property.

Further closures will be necessary at a future date. Advance notice will be given as soon as practical.

Please also note that the dirt road along Platte Saline in front of the houses is a private road and this is not an alternative route.

Thank you for your co-operation in this matter. 

Julie Turner

States Engineer