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And while it was the Western Highway that gave in last night, for the past week, everyone has been concerned about the Northern Highway. Today the former Chief Engineer and now Chief Executive Officer Cadet Henderson says there is no reason to be alarmed. He told us the Northern Highway is structurally sound. He blamed the collapse in portions of the Western Highway on corroded metal culverts. And the good news is there aren’t many like that on the Northern Highway.

Cadet Henderson, CEO – Ministry of Works
“It is vulnerable but we will be monitoring it closely and if we have any collapse or propagation of the failure there we will respond quickly.”

Keith Swift,
Should drivers be concerned when crossing that area?

Cadet Henderson,
“What area?”

Keith Swift,
Same area on the Northern Highway between the Haulover Bridge and the airport.

Cadet Henderson,
“Well I would say if it becomes perilous, if it poses a serious danger we will either stop traffic or provide guidance to the motorists. We will have people out there with safety vests and caution tape to make sure you stay within the carriage way of the road.”

Keith Swift,
So driver should be thinking twice about passing that area?

Cadet Henderson,
“No. Whatever failure is likely will not be catastrophic. It would be something progressive, you would see a tell tale that cautions you that something that is happening.”

Keith Swift,
But could it be like what happened last night on the Western Highway?

Cadet Henderson,
“In this area of the Northern Highway where we’re talking there is, I would want to say absolutely none, but there are very few if any metal culverts and the metal culverts are the ones that corrode that is difficult to assess underground. We have mainly concrete culverts in that area.”

Henderson did say that if there is more than a foot of water on any part of the highway it will be closed to small vehicles.