Public safety officials expressed optimism Monday that a weekend roadway mishap on St. John would soon be cleared away. Traffic along Route 104 — South Shore Road — stopped on Saturday after a construction crane dislodged from the flatbed truck it was mounted on as it traversed a steep hill.
Police say no one was hurt when the crane fell off its conveyance and obstructed both lanes midway up Jacob’s Ladder. Public Works declared an emergency road closure Saturday afternoon and sent a crew to redirect motorists.
The perils of traversing the hill between Pine Peace convenience store and the St. John Westin Resort have been a topic of concern among island dwellers and is particularly treacherous near the top after passing showers.
Initial attempts to remove the toppled crane on Saturday failed and left the equipment used in the attempt damaged, said St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island Police Chief Deborah Hodge. The chief said more durable equipment was found on St. Thomas, and efforts to move it onto St. John were underway. “It has to come from St. Thomas; they already identified the equipment and it is on its way,” Hodge said.
But by Monday — after two days of little progress — a new peril appeared in the form of oil leaking onto the roadway. A worker was seen scattering sand from a bucket over glistening streams flowing from the crane. Officials said the V.I. Fire Service was dispatched to the scene to help address the problem.
The chief was asked about any concerns that the blockage of a roadway passing by the island’s premier resort and residential areas might hamper any emergency response.
It was a concern, Hodge said, but the priority for now is getting the toppled crane out of the roadway. Until that task is completed, motorists are advised to use Contant Hill as an alternate route, said the weekend statement from Public Works.
