Drainage work to eliminate
the flooding in Lowtown
MARIGOT/St. Martin--A major project announced a few weeks ago to eliminate the flooding problem in the Lowtown area of St. James, Marigot, after very heavy rains has begun.
The parking spaces outside shops such as CD Mania and the money exchange close to the junction have been sealed off while around the corner in the car park for Marina Port La Royale work has started on digging a trench that will contain a 200-metre-long, four-metre-wide underground concrete culvert designed to redirect flood water back into the Lagoon.
The 900,000-euro project is expected to take three months to complete.
Semsamar engineer in charge Fodil Mesbah said the work would not necessitate closing the road which is the only exit to Bellevue and Cole Bay on the Dutch side and as far as possible work would also be carried out at night to minimise disruption to traffic.
Other projects in the centre of Marigot include replacing the old pumping station at a cost of 400,000 euros. This pump was noticeably unable to cope with the amount of floodwater experienced in previous downpours in the vicinity of the Mairie.
The third new drainage project is on Rue Kennedy and this is also expected to eliminate odours coming from this area.
St Maarten vacation rental
