Will They Ever Be Done With the Goodineaux Bridge?

When they first started fixing the Goodineaux bridge, months ago, traffic was understandable. Everyone traveling from South Trinidad understood that the inconvenience was a matter of upgrading the bridge. People even tolerated the resurfacing of the road prior to the work on the bridge becoming an issue. It has become more ridiculous.

In the photograph (click it to see the larger image), you can see the traffic coming from Oropouche at a standstill while seeing the traffic coming from La Romain side. And because it has become so ridiculous, other questions start coming to the fore - such as how PriceSmart got their very own light on the main road between Bamboo junction and Dansteel in an area that desperately needs to become 4 lanes. Or how it is that an 'Industrial Island' planned off of Otaheite Bay will affect traffic - not to mention the Aluminium Smelter in La Brea.

It's apparent that the roads need to be increased in size. It's also apparent that the roadsides have been prepared for it. The rumour mill says that Junior Sammy already has the contract to do it - and also to run the Southern Main Road Extension between Water and Oil Services near S.M. Jaleel to pass Berridge Trace. And with all of that being questioned, why is so much effort being put into a single lane per direction bridge? Shouldn't that be upgraded to 4 lanes as well? One would think so. But months pass.

Unannounced single lane traffic creeps through. Police, standing in the sweltering sun, keep traffic lined up and have thankfully started policing the idiots who try to pass everyone and jump into the queue closer - thus pushing back the law abiding drivers.

How much longer will it take for this to be completed? And when will there be true road improvement for this bottleneck for people coming from or going to South-West Trinidad? You'd think Kamla Persad-Bissessar would be all over this.

Oh, and look at this picture taken yesterday - and tell me if the bridge looks repaired or just painted: 

I'm no structural engineer, but...