Truck breaks down on Flat Bridge

There was a traffic pile-up along Flat Bridge in St Catherine yesterday morning leading into the early afternoon, after a trailer truck carrying cement broke down while the driver attempted to cross the infamous bridge.

Rudolph Farquharson, the truck driver, says the truck broke down about 5:30 a.m.

"From dem time deh we a try work fi clear it up until now, and the police dem deh here a assist we from dem time deh. I was on a business move. I was making a delivery of cement for Carib Cement," Farquharson told THE STAR. Mechanics showed up to the scene two hours later and worked to repair the trailer for more than six hours.

"Is just a major break-off of an axle underneath the trailer. A me alone did out here because a only one driver, and the company send some mechanic fi sort out the axle. Dem come bout 7:30 a.m., so me wait fi bout two hours," he added. About 1:20 p.m., full access was restored to motorists.

Meanwhile, police officers were present directing motorists to ensure that there was an easy flow of traffic. But while cars and vans could continue their journey, drivers of larger vehicles had to stand still or find alternative routes.

"Me just want the bridge fi clear up. Me wah leave from yah suh," another trailer driver who had been waiting for more than an hour told THE STAR.

"A business me a do and this a hold up me time. Me afi reach weh me a go before a certain time," the irate man said.

One mechanic says that kind of traffic pile-up could be avoided, if the Government widens the bridge.

"If dem add piece pon the bridge, people coulda a pass freely right now. A one-week work, dat nuh hard fi do. But the Government nuh wah do that because dem seh a historical site and people from all over the world pay fi come see Flat Bridge," he said.