The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Works is stepping up drainage maintenance in flood-prone areas as the rainy season continues, while warning that private developments, blocked drains and inadequate infrastructure are contributing to flooding across New Providence.

Francis Clarke, Senior Highway Engineer responsible for Road Maintenance and Construction, said the department prepares its teams ahead of the rainy and hurricane seasons by cleaning drainage infrastructure in areas known to experience flooding.

He identified Bay Street, York Street and Pinewood Gardens among the areas regularly targeted by the department. Mr Clarke stressed that drain maintenance is carried out throughout the year and is not limited to the rainy season.

He said residents who experience flooding in their communities can contact the department through its hotline to report problem areas.

On Pinewood Gardens, Mr Clarke said the department has begun collecting data as part of plans to address flooding in the area. He said lift stations have been ordered but have not yet arrived in the country.

He explained that the contractor is collecting hydrogeological information before finalising the design because the project is being carried out under a design-build contract. In the meantime, Mr Clarke said the department continues to maintain drainage infrastructure in Pinewood Gardens and surrounding areas that are prone to flooding.

Mr Clarke also provided an update on work in Coral Harbour, where he said construction is continuing and sidewalks are being repaired. He said the department is also awaiting the arrival of pumps that will be installed as part of the drainage system.

Mr Clarke said Coral Harbour experienced flooding during the current rainy season after two loads of fill were placed in the area by private individuals, restricting the flow of water.

He said the project had experienced delays but that progress should resume shortly. Once completed, the Coral Harbour system will use a mechanical pump to remove water from detention ponds and discharge it into the canal.

Mr Clarke said a maintenance programme will also be established to ensure the pumps remain operational.

Mr Clarke also pointed to wider problems with the country's drainage infrastructure, saying some existing drains were constructed decades ago and do not meet modern drainage requirements.

He said the drains are currently able to handle runoff from roadways but require regular maintenance because debris is frequently washed into them during heavy rainfall. Mr Clarke also blamed some of the debris on uncovered trucks carrying aggregate and other materials from unpaved roads onto paved roadways.

He said private property development is another factor contributing to flooding.

“The Control Act requires that you dispose of your own drainage, and so there are a lot of private parking lots and residential buildings that are discharging the water runoff into the roadway,” Mr Clarke said.

He explained that public drainage infrastructure is generally designed to accommodate runoff from the roadway itself, rather than additional water being discharged from privately developed properties.

“The roadway has a single footprint, and our drainage infrastructure is only designed to accommodate that footprint. But the excess water running from private and developed properties is really causing the flooding issues too,” he said.

Mr Clarke said development of wetlands can also worsen flooding because wetlands provide a natural route for stormwater to drain from the land towards the sea. He said these factors, combined with ageing drainage infrastructure and increased development, continue to create challenges for flood management across New Providence.