RESIDENTS of several communities served by the Westmoreland Bridge in Georgia, St Mary, which was washed out four years ago when Tropical Storm Gustav struck and swelled the Wag Water River, are cautiously optimistic that their lives will soon return to normal now that work has finally begun on replacing the structure.

Over the past four years, not only have they been saddled with increased transportation costs using the longer alternative route, but they have also been risking their lives, wading waist deep in murky water to get to the other side.

Last week when Jamaica Observer North East visited the location, work was in full swing with contractor China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) pushing ahead to complete the job ahead of the 20-month schedule.

Colin Morrison of the National Works Agency, which has oversight for the US$13.3-million project rolled out under the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme in February, told the Observer North East that the bridge is expected to be completed ahead of the October 2013 schedule.

Once done, it will be of the longest in the island — at 180 metres. It will sit on five piers and two abutments and will be equipped with sidewalks.

The Westmoreland Bridge is the major link between the community of Georgia and areas such as Bromley, Coffee Piece, Lewis Store, Cromwell Land, Richmond and Highgate. Residents of these communities say they have felt abandoned over the years as the three alternative routes to Highgate namely, the roads through Belfield, Esher and Whitehall/Harmony Hall, are in deplorable condition. They complained, too, that since the bridge was damaged, some residents have had to travel more than 20 additional kilometres to access the communities.

Warren Gayle, a resident of Highgate, said his patience has just about run out from having been inconvenienced for so long.

“Although we happy fi see say work start on the bridge, we still no feel no real comfort yet because 20 months is a long time for us to be without a bridge that we used to have even before my grandmother days,” he said.

According to Gayle, the destruction of the bridge has resulted in untold hardships for taxi operators, schoolchildren, farmers, the sick and elderly, and members of the general public who commute between Kingston and Highgate.

“Using the alternative route to get to the hospital could be a matter of life or death for residents who have to travel this longer distance to get there,” he said.

Gayle explained that some residents, unable to find the taxi fare to get home, often wade across the river.

“Even if dem did put up a footbridge the people woulda did feel better, because it means that dem could at least cross over without having to wade through the water,” he said.

Now that work has begun on the replacement bridge, the contractors have prohibited persons from walking across the river due to safety issues. This, Gayle said, has made the 20-month wait seem even longer.

“But ah guess at least we now have something to look forward to; because ah long time we been promised this bridge and we look ’til wi eye nearly drop out fi years,” he said.

Another resident, Sean Boone, said the failure to restore the bridge in a timely manner has resulted in the death of some communities as the hundreds of vehicles which used to traverse the route to Highgate from Kingston are no longer doing so.

“All we businesses affected…is like some things just stopped after we lose the bridge, ” Boone said, adding that the residents are hopeful things will return to normal once the new bridge is in place.

“Trust me, it caan happen soon enough fi me, because as soon as the road open back me ago set up me stall pon the roadside,” he said.

Dana Davis, a resident of Belfield Works, who is the better for living closer to the alternative routes, said she is still anxiously awaiting the replacement bridge as the increased traffic in her community has done considerable damage to the road.

“Look on the condition of the road. It was bad before, but now since the whole heap ah vehicles using it, look at how worse it is,” she complained.

What’s worse, she said, is that when it rains, a footbridge in the Belfield Pen community becomes impassable, further denying residents access to their homes.

Still, as excited as she is about work having begun on the bridge, the joy is overshadowed by the lack of opportunities in this rural community.

“Young people don’t have nutten to do around here,” she said from her verandah where she sat soaking in the mid-morning sun.

Not many young people are thrilled about working on the banana estate, Davis said, and the few who are, are unable to secure jobs there.

“Is only the Chinese wholesales in Annotto Bay and Highgate give us some work, and that not enough fi everybody,” she said.