HANOVER, Jamaica – The Hillsbrook Bridge in the constituency of Hanover Eastern which was heavily compromised by heavy rainfall earlier last year, has collapsed.

The bridge which serves the communities of Flower Hill, Woodsville and Hillsbrook finally gave way at around 1:00 pm Saturday, leaving these and other communities partially cut off.

President of the Woodsville Community Development Committee, Shasha-Gay Fraser told the OBSERVER ONLINE that apart from the schools and the popular tourist attraction, Mayfield Falls, being impacted by the collapsed bridge, the elderly are of concern.

“We have so many elderly persons living in the area that traverse the route to get medical care. What is going to happen if somebody gets sick or pregnant mothers that utilise that route? What is going to happen now? They are cut away from the rest of Jamaica, you have to say,” stated Fraser.

Last April, the Jamaica Observer reported that the National Works Agency (NWA) had recommended that the road be closed. The Hanover Municipal Corporation took action to have this done but their efforts were averted by residents who claimed that the bridge was the only way out of the community.

Fraser said the bypass road, Cascade to Hillsbrook, is currently in a deplorable condition while a section of the road has eaten away and is on the verge of collapsing.

“Not even donkeys can walk on that road. It is totally impossible and there is a section of that road that has already been eaten away. There is a section there that probably small vehicles can pass because half of the gully bank has eaten away into the river,” argued Fraser.

“There needs to be some attention and that is a ridiculous road too. I would not advise anybody to drive on that road at night. It is dangerous. It is a lonely road,” added Fraser.

Anthony Lewis.