Owner:

Public Works Department of St.

Kitts and Nevis

Engineer:

Kevin Williams, Project Engineer,

PWD of St. Kitts and Nevis

Contractor:

National Association of Heavy

Equipment Operators Ltd

Technical Description:

Product: Bridge - Plate Arch

Span: 11300 mm

Rise: 6763 mm

Length: 150.08 m

Installation: February - March 2015

ST. KITTS ROCKFALL TUNNEL PROTECTION

Saint Kitts and Nevis

The island’s main highway joining Basseterre to the beaches

of the north and the ferry dock to neighbouring Nevis had

experienced rock falls along its route.

Armtec proposed a tunnel made from Bridge Plate

to protect the vehicular traffic from the dangerous rocks

falling from above. In early 2014 construction began on the

around 12 meters wide by 7 meter high tunnel and by

mid year the plates were assembled and the tunnel was

ready for final backfill. Once completed, the tunnel

would be buried under 2 meters of fill guarding the

road from falling rocks.

The project was the first to incorporate double

dimension elbows. The elbows provide a smooth curve

guiding traffic through the bends from the upslope

entrance to the exit some 140 metres away.

Once completed the main road crisscrossing St Kitts

will be once again open, providing much safe transport

for the burgeoning tourist trade while enhancing day

to day transport for island travelers.