Causeway is closed to traffic ’til further notice

https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/causeway-is-closed-to-traffic-til-further-notice

That can’t be Good

Hopefully it'll be a quick fix and not an island time fix.

Wow, that seriously sucks, for those on island. I guess their "fix" that they just did, wasn't so good!

Hopefully it will be fixed by Sunday. If not what’s the best route to the airport from GC? Through Sandy Ground and around or Cole Bay/Pelican Key? I’ve only been visiting the island since 2016 and the causeway is all I know.

I would go through Sandy Ground primarily to avoid Simpson Bay traffic which can be unpredictable.

Thanks CaribLee. I’ve travelled that way to the airport once when the Bastille Day parade was taking place on Rue de Hollande in Marigot. I’ve never went the other way.

Yes, I would go through Sandy Ground also. Although frankly, on a Sunday, there shouldn't be too much traffic in Simpson Bay regardless. I do NOT go through Sandy Ground after night, but by day, it's not bad.

Yes Carol.....I wasn't thinking about it being Sunday. But like you, I would still go through Sandy Ground. The scenery is better as well.

Must have been fun for the cars waiting on the causeway.

This last May we returned through Sandy Ground. Very slow going with all the pot holes and speed bumps.

It's a shame the SXM Island cam is down. It would be helpful to be able to check and see when traffic resumes.

Just think of the poor boats on the French Side with too deep a draft to go through the French bridge (that would be many of them). They are stuck there!

Zanshin--I think the bridge is now stuck OPEN to boat traffic, although perhaps it's just not locked in place for automobile traffic. Thus not usable for anyone. Not sure.

The Simpson Bay draw bridge is still opperational.

Scuba--Zanshin is talking about a boat that is on the French side of the causeway.

I know but since Causway is stuck open it's not a problem to leave the Lagoon.

As I said when I amended my post, I'm not certain on that.

I hope they are able to resolve it soon. I personally thought the Causeway was just a boondoggle when they were proposing it, but it has definitely helped both sides of the island.

The Causeway does a great help to alleviate to traffic heading towards the French side or Cole Bay both ways .

According to the article, the bridge was closing when the malfunction took place. It depends on how close it came to fully closing as to whether boats are able to pass. Would be helpful if we had a photo of its current state.

Maybe the picture in the article tells us. I've never seen it open and close so I'm not sure what I am looking at.

CaribLee--I have seen it open a time or two, but not sure what I'm looking at in the picture either.

You are looking at a bridge that may be open to marine traffic but no way anything else will get across. The bridge actually lifts and swings when it opens and swing back and lowers when it closes. I expect they will have to send someone from Holland, like they always do. It's too hard.

Traffic ebbs and flows. Drove all over Dutch side yesterday am and only had minor traffic. Last night took 40 minutes Cupecoy to The Palms.

For sure, we know that there is no way that vehicular traffic can use it at the moment. The question currently was whether boats could pass through or not. According to the original story in the paper, folks from Holland are already onsite.

From photos posted elsewhere, it looks like the bridge has swiveled to roughly 15% open. I don’t think much tall-masted boat traffic will be passing through.

I was in St. Martin when the bridge was inaugurated and the fireworks were very impressive. I had a rental car at the time and was crossing the bridge when it opened, I was in the 3rd or 4th car from the barrier. I got some nice photos of the bridge opening and then almost closing, stopping with just a couple of inches to go. I waited almost an hour before giving up, turning the car around and going the long way. I gather the bridge didn't reopen until that evening

Wow, those fireworks are pretty impressive! Thanks for posting!

Any word on if it was fixed yesterday?

it was not in today's Daily Herald, so I have to assume that it has NOT been fixed yet.

If the causeway is closed, what way would you recommend getting to Orient? Years ago, I have gone around and through Sandy Ground. Have also gone through the Dutch side up past Middle Region. Been so long ago, I have no clue on the best way.

ODB--where are you starting out? That makes a difference, whether you have to go through all of Simpson Bay traffic or not.

Starting at the airport. Arriving Saturday at about 1pm. So, Sandy Ground is an option.

Starting at the airport, I would go through Sandy Ground. Otherwise, you have to traverse ALL of Simpson Bay on a Saturday.

The bridge has re-opened to vehicular traffic.

Good deal! Thanks.

Thanks for the good news.

👍👏

The bridge was closed manually. It has not been repaired.

Link

Good old Sam and crew cranked it closed. Repair will happen whenever help comes from Holland as no one here knows how to fix it.

A problem for sailors until it is fixed, but at least the land traffic has resumed!

Yep. We happened to be at SBYC when Sam arrived after being on the cranking team and we had a big cheer!

Seems like they could have done that two days ago, if they could manually close it, but glad it got done anyway!!!!

I’m told that the manual process was performed by a team of seven, cranking for three hours to complete the job.

Sounds like they'd better make darn sure that it is fixed this time, before they re-open it.