Residents benefit from retaining wall work – Lead Stories …

Sheldon Williams, Staff Reporter

The livelihood of several skilled residents from Dallas Castle in rural St Andrew has been boosted following their contribution to the construction of a retaining wall in their community.

The erected wall and widened road have been considered a saving grace for commerce and job opportunities and have made travel on the August Hill road easier.

It was officially opened yesterday following six weeks of repair between September and November last year.

Dahlia Thompson, one of the females who worked on the project overwhelmed by males, quickly admitted it was hard work, but it was worth it.

"It was the hardest construction work I've ever done," she said with a chuckle.

"I threw stones and I lifted stones and I cleared the riverbed, and at one point, I worked with the welder and carpenters and lifted cement," she said.

Months earlier, the road was in such a deplorable state that taxi drivers left residents halfway into the journey.

"It affected people going to school and work because when rain fall, you would have landslides [and] so persons would have to struggle with their load. If you had baskets, you would have to struggle with them by yourself or ask somebody to help you. The drivers used to use it as excuse since they didn't want to come, but now it's fixed, so they have to go the full journey," she said proudly.

Michael Patterson was employed as a carpenter on the project and said the repair work was long overdue. He said prior to the repairs, only the brave would risk using the road.

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