THE temporary concrete bridge built at the Yallahs ford following the passage of Hurricane Ivanin September was washed away by raging flood waters yesterday.

"Everytime two little rain fall, the bridge wash away," one man who stood at the edge of the Yallahs River said yesterday. "This wants a good bridge. One what don't wash away so easy," the man told the Observer as he watched the raging waters of the river.

A bridge over the Yallahs River has been a headache for government over the years as several structures put there have been destroyed by raging flood waters.

The remains of the temporary bridge of over the Yallahs ford, which was washed away during heavy rains yesterday. (Photos: Karl Mclarty)

The ford is part of a crucial artery linking the eastern parishes and the Corporate Area, and motorists will have to use the alternative route through Islington District. However, drivers of heavy vehicles were yesterday advised not to use the Islington bridge, which has been in a poor state for several years.

Minister of state for transport and works, Fenton Ferguson announced earlier this year that $470 million is to be spent on a new Yallahs Bridge, secured under a loan agreement with British bridging systems firm, Mabey and Johnson Limited. Ferguson said the new bridge should be ready in 2006, however, it was not clear yesterday when work would commence on the new structure.

A Bailey bridge which was opened by Prime Minister P J Patterson just before the general election in October 2002 was swept away five months after the island was lashed by torrential rains.

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