Professional Engineers Join RHD Protest

Written by Pio Sioa
Friday, 14 December 2007
The Institute of Professional Engineers Samoa (IPES) has joined the protest against the Government road switch policy. The engineers reaction has added a technical dimension to the debate, since the Chamber of Commerce agonized over the ‘shock’ to the economy, if Government goes ahead with the policy. The IPES listed a range of concerns in their official submission on the issue to Government this week. Other than fears for the loss of life, with the children as the most vulnerable, the design of the roads was another major worry. “The roads were designed for LHD vehicles,” according to the IPES submission. The technical opinion noted that changes to the intersections, roundabouts, bus stops, median islands and more, is necessary before any switch to driving on the ‘wrong side’ of the road is made. “In order to meet Code Requirements, all public roads shall require redesign and construction to comply with the approved Road Design Codes,” noted the submission. “The investigations, redesign and reconstruction is estimated at no less than $175m.” The biggest estimated costs however is construction where “all the necessary changes in order to meet Code requirements is $540 million. The additional costs raised by engineers will push the total financial load to the country’s economy beyond the $1 billion tala mark, when added to the Chamber of Commerce $750 million The IPES is calling on Government, not to take their concerns lightly. “ If our Government respects the views of well trained and qualified locally-based engineering professionals who are recognized by counterpart institutions in New Zealand, Australia, United States, the Washington Accord, and the World Federation of Engineers, etc, then the advice of IPES members directly associated with infrastructure development and implementation should be seriously considered. Comments (2) Subscribe to this comment's feed ... written by GC, December 14, 2007 Those costs are overblown exaggerations! I know this because my friend Mika Kelekolio said so here: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/op...op003.htm OK its by a "poor farmer" but my many years experience as a mind reader and text analyst for the FBI told me otherwise. The similarities with writing style and appeal are uncanny. The observer are in on the ploy with its bolding of subject headings, theyve never done that for any letter except their own published opinions and viewpoints. Sorry about the sidetrack but I've heard and agreed with all the arguments against (to a certain extent) the switch. ... written by Gina, February 19, 2008 I don't like Mika Kelekolio's style - not enough research and too much blabing about things he doesn't know much about and it is obvious he is envious of those who have worked their ass off to get where they are (rich and greedy car owning business people - i didn't know that it was only business people who own cars) and miffed that he catches the bus to Tiavi instead of driving a car - gas guzzling or not. Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Friday, 14 December 2007 )

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