Philipsburg:--- Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin who is also the Minister of VROMI showed reporters the report he recently received from Lievense Engineering who was contracted by the Government of St. Maarten to conduct a study on building between one to three tunnels that will connect the various roads that will be constructed in 2013 and 2014 and the causeway that is currently under construction over the Simpson Bay Lagoon.
The report issued by Lievense gave an outline on tunnel one and two and the possibility of a third tunnel. The draft of the tunnel shows a tunnel with two lanes for traffic to accommodate two way traffic with large vehicles but the Minister of VROMI is considering the possibility of changing that draft to include a third lane in the middle, which will be used only as a by-pass to deviate traffic in the event of an accident on any of the lanes. Marlin said the third lane in the middle that is now being considered will not be used for overtaking.
The report showed that the project can be completed within 28 months as soon as a decision is taken by the Minister of VROMI. Marlin told reporters that the intention is to give the interested company/companies a concession for a period of 30 years. Government's intention is to have the contractors build the tunnels at their own expense and they would then charge a toll fee for vehicles that go through these tunnels to cover the cost of construction and to operate and maintain the tunnels.
The report states that in general the overall environmental impact with the construction of the bypass tunnel will be very beneficial, the rerouting of traffic and more importantly the removal of heavy vehicles from A.J. C Browers Road will have major benefits to the island and the flow of traffic from the west and east side of the island. Additional to those benefits, the time spent in traffic by bypassing the A.J.C Browers Road will be reduced significantly. The gradients in the tunnel will have to be minimal for the purpose of drainage. Air pollution will also be reduced significantly while with the reduced traffic on the main roads there will be a possibility to provide more areas for pedestrians and further improvements for resident and visitors.
Based on a preliminary traffic study, approximately 10,000 vehicles can be expected to use the tunnels on a daily basis in both directions, therefore that would immediately reduce the stress on Union Road, Browers Road, and Bush Road.
The report further stated that the construction of these tunnels will have minor impact on the environment while the spoils from the construction can be used as fill material in land reclamation and will also be suitable for concrete aggregate for the construction of the tunnel. The tunnels can also be used as an emergency shelter for a potentially vulnerable sector of people. The report mentioned that during hurricane Luis and Lenny a number of people were killed, it added that the tunnel could provide an ideal refuge for such persons which would require simple measures which is to seal the portals with roller shutters. Basic accommodation including camp beds, mobile toilets, washing facilities, and canteens as well as medical and emergency units can be housed in the tunnels during natural disasters.
One of the tunnels measure 16.5 and another one measures 20.45. Marlin said the two tunnels will amount to over 3000 meters in tunnel space. Lievense said their report that the construction a tunnel from Union Road to L.B. Scot Road is feasible. This can be achieved with minimal disruption to the existing traffic and when it is completed it will be of considerable benefit to St. Maarten's residents and visitors. These tunnels will take traffic out of Union Road, Browers Road, and Bush Road making it appreciable to pedestrians and permitting revitalization of the area. Lievense also suggested that a site investigation and survey must be undertaken which will be used for the final designs of the tunnels and that will also assist in determining the final cost of the project.
Marlin confirmed to reporters on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers' weekly press briefing that the tunnels will cost must less than the causeway that is currently under construction. He further explained that the construction cost of the causeway was passed on to the people with the increase of container fees and fuel taxes which affected everyone on St. Maarten even those that might never use the causeway. He said the estimated cost is way below the one hundred million dollars that the contractors claim the causeway would cost St. Maarten.
Marlin did not say how soon his government will take a decision on the construction of these tunnels. He made clear that no decision has been taken on the construction of these tunnels that are highly criticized by others that have political interest. He said so far three companies have shown interest in the project and they come from China, Brazil, and Austria.
Former Deputy Prime Minister's Executive Assistant fighting to get back in power.
The five day commissioner and former Deputy Prime Minister's executive assistant Maurice Lake verbally attacked the tunnel project earlier this week at a town hall meeting that was held to inform the residents about current zoning plans. Marlin was also at that meeting and immediately responded to the allegations made by Lake who said that the current Minister of VROMI has a tunnel vision and that the tunnels will cost over three hundred million dollars. In response to what Lake said at the meeting, Marlin told reporters that some people who are currently not in power are fighting to get back positions they had in government. Therefore, these persons will use each and every opportunity they get to criticize the initiatives that are undertaken by the current government, especially by him (Marlin) who is over the Ministry of VROMI. Marlin insisted that the current coalition government has not taken any decision to build the tunnels. He said government is looking at building one tunnel and if it feasible they will build a second tunnel. He said these tunnels will serve several purposes such as the east to west connection. Marlin said based on the road network plan, there are up to seven links from one to seven that had to be constructed. This plan is in place between 15 to 17 years and to date only links that were constructed is link one- phase one which he initiated when he was commissioner some years ago. He said link one-phase two was constructed by former commissioner Roy Marlin when he was in office while link one-phase three is yet to complete. He said there has never been a final alignment to that link which would have run through the Bells property on Cole Bay Hill. Marlin said ever since then no other road links were undertaken even though the plans were in place. He said the construction of the causeway was sold as if it will alleviate the traffic in Simpson Bay. Marlin further explained that his reaction back then was that it is a bridge to nowhere if it does not connect to the rest of the island to really alleviate traffic. Marlin said since he took office he decided to maximize the presence of the bridge and connect the west side of the island to the eastern side of the island.
Another benefit Marlin mentioned is that the tunnels will eliminate the scarring of the island as opposed to if several road links are constructed.