Mystery bridge on ETHE

| 05/09/2012

ETH extension Sep-12 (296x300).jpg(CNS): The emergence of a bridge along the Esterley Tibbetts Highway extension being undertaken by Dart has begun to raise public concerns that it will be spanning future channels which may cut through the island from the North Sound to Seven Mile Beach. A selection of pictures taken over the last four weeks by concerned citizens also shows the clearing of mangroves and dykes along the extension route, which is fuelling local fears about the scope and scale of the development around the new road. The extension forms part of the NRA agreement within the ForCayman Investment Alliance deal between the islands’ largest developer and government.

With few details about the Dart Cayman’s long term plans regarding the complete project, which is tied to the development of a five-star resort at the former site of the Courtyard Marriott, speculation over the bridge is mounting about the possible dredging of a channel, which would effectively slice through Grand Cayman at its narrowest point.

Cast concrete support for bridge on north side of the ETH extension - photo taken on 2-Sep-12 (49) (300x225).jpgCNS has contacted Dart, the NRA and the planning department in an effort to find out more about the bridge. Dart and the NRA have so far failed to respond to questions about what it will span and any plans for future canals or channels that could cut through to the Seven Mile Beach area or into the planned resort. The Department of Planning confirmed that no permission has been given by them for any canal or channel development.

“Our department has not been provided with any details about the extension of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway other than what we've read in the media or on the ForCayman Alliance web site,” a spokesperson for planning stated. “To date, an application for planning permission has not been submitted for any canals associated with the works shown in the photograph or anywhere in the area of the road works undertaken over the past few months.”

The planning department did state that the NRA would not be required to apply for planning permission when building roads, with or without bridges. However, if there is associated development that includes canals, that development would require planning permission. The spokesperson also noted that the current situation with a private sector developer constructing the road, as opposed to a government-owned company, is something of a grey area.

West of the ETH extension work - dyke clearing & mangrove removal photo taken on 2-Sep-12 (7).jpgThe photographs, which show the clearing of dykes and removal of mangrove at the edges of channels in the area as well as raised areas between the water channels, coupled with the clear and evident construction of a bridge are leading some residents, particularly in the West Bay area to speculation that the developer could be planning to link the sea on either side, which raises a number of environmental concerns.

“There is a very real potential for loss of life and massive destruction upon virtually all of West Bay in the event of another Ivan-like hurricane if this bridge is an indication of a plan for channels linking the North Sound to Seven Mile Beach,” a local activist stated after pictures of the bridge were circulated last month.

Clearing and destruction of mangrove in the vacinity of the ETH extension - photo taken on 2-Sep-12 (79).jpg“The sea surging inland from the North Sound will be even worse and more extensive, since its path would be made easier and more dangerous due to the deep and wide yacht channels.”

There is no confirmation however, that Dart plans to construct any new waterways in the area or why it has constructed the bridge.

Photos above were taken 2 September.

See series of pictures of the extension taken in August below.

See plans associated with NRA/Dart agreement here

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  1. Duckworth Lewis says:

    The phrase "storm in a teacup" springs to mind.  I am sure it will be a lovely building and setting when it is finished. 

  2. Anonymous says:

    So I log in and start reading about the proposed bridge and scroll down to the comments section only to see most people talking nonsense, insulting each other and bickering between themselves.  If 50,000 people in a small community such as Cayman can't get on with each other, what chance has the world as a whole got.

    Its ridiculous wrap it up.

    In respect of the bridge if it saves travelling time and in effect cuts down CO2 emissions from cars that spend less time on the road as a result of it, isn't that "preserving the environment"?

    Dart or the Government should be open and up front about the project and invite the public to see the plans.

    • Anonymous says:

      "Dart or the Government should be open and up front about the project"….. therein lies the problem. Neither party is open or up-front about anything, which is why everyoneis suspicious. 

      • Anonymous says:

        Dart and the Governemtn are getting closer and closer to being the same thing.

    • SKEPTICALSKEPTICAL says:

      Typically mindless trite comment from someone who presumably is here for the shortish term, and has no vested interest in the long term interests of Cayman.

    • Anonymous says:

      How can a bridge on a road to West Bay save on Co2 emissions?

       

      • Be afraid says:

        (a) Close the bridge;

        (b) Keke is trapped on the other side, where he can't argue with people; and

        (c) gas emissions go down.  Fewer brains explode as well.

  3. Anonymous says:

    CNS – Whilst we understand what you meant, Grand Harbour RedBay area is Caymans narrowest point per the 1932 storm anecdotes.

    • Google Earth It says:

      Actually we can all measure it on Google Earth now, and while the Grand Harbour is indeed narrow at 1,120 feet (canal water to shore), the Palm Heights canal to SMB is only 907 feet. 

  4. Anonymous says:

    16:51 – Thanks for grasping onto my general comment re "can't leave", when perhaps I should have said "choose not to leave", as it is more accurate. In my case, I'm a successful, middle-aged (nearing retirement) professional, so from a personal perspective I am more accurate in my assertion that I can't leave – being the most sensible option for me. That is a strictly personal choice. However, I can assure you that it is not for fear of competing in the "big world", as I've done both educationally and professionally, and succeeded! In fact I hold the distinction of being a selected employee of Her Majesty's Government (UK, not Cayman Islands) in a specialist field – one of only two in the Caribbean! 

    I have the good fortune to have been raised by open-minded parents, benefited from a secondary and tertiary overseas education and the total acceptance by the overseas communities in which I lived and studied. I entered said communities with open-mindedness and assimilation – unlike many who come to our shores. These factors have assisted in creating a tolerance in me that unfortunately does not exist in many Caymanians who have not had the good fortune to be similarly "exposed". Because of this I can accommodate the prejudices I experience in my own country better than some but that does not mean they do not exist. What grabs me is that said prejudice is invariably meted out by persons less educated and successful than myself. And then I have the last laugh because prejudice is bred from ignorance, such as your own comment.

    • Dying Breed says:

      "You are here because you are doing better in the wonderful Cayman Islands that you would in your home country.  If you do not like it you can definately leave.  There are planes leaving daily and don't let the door hit you on the way out.  Others are desperate to come here and you will not be missed."  Or so the post usually goes  . . . .

  5. Anonymous says:

    Did anyone think about just informing the public. It might not be so bad and it would stop all the speculation.

  6. Anonymous says:

    13:46 – I would definitely not put up with racism and xenophobia in any society in which I live, if I had an option. Unfortunately, as a Caymanian, I can't leave. Expats who experience that in Cayman can. I'm a Caymanian who called a SMB restaurant last week to make a reservation. I was questioned (by the foreign maitre-d of course) as to whether I was "local or visitor". When I arrived and asked if there were any specials for locals or visitors (hence justifying his question) he acknowledged that there were none. My wife and I were handed the same menus as other guests – many obvioulsy visitors and chaged the same prices. So what was his question based on – if not "profiling"??

    Take that example plus the different levels of service Caymanians receive at many such establishments, vs that given to "visitors". You want to talk about enduring racism and xenophobia? Talk to a Caymanian living in his own country!

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Basically, you've drawn a conclusion out of thin air and then relayed it as fact. The restaurant owner may be polling people in order to figure out where to spend money on an advertising campaign, which would depend very much on the proportion of customers that are local (i.e. living here, nothing ethnic in the question) or visitors. Or perhaps he has noticed a different trend in what people eat (local v. expat) which would affect what produce he orders. There! Two possible scenarios that are more plausible than yours.

       

      Based on the first paragraph I am sceptical about the second – perhaps you see insults where none exist.

    • Anonymous says:

      Restaurants where I am in the US will ask you if you're in a hotel or local. It makes a difference to them in terms of the liklihood of cancellation, whether or not to impose a cancellation fee, how to get in touch, etc. Believe it or not people will make four reservations and blow three of them off without notice when the gang finally gets together and decides where they want to go a half hour beforehand. I think you're too touchy.

    • Truth Hurts says:

      I've never understood why Caymanians say  "as a Caymanian, I can't leave."

      Why not? If the expats can leave their home countries and come here, what's stopping you from leaving yours? Scared of having to compete in the real world?

    • Anonymous says:

      I have no ideas about your certain situation, but I, as a tourist, know there are actually 3 levels of standard on most islands. There is the "local" rate, the "repeat visitor" rate and then the "tourist" rate.  The "local" rate is in fact cheaper so I am not sure what type of "racism" you would feel you would be receiving in your own country? I know this is for hotels, rental cars, tours, sailing….

      Maybe in your situation the maitre-d wanted to sit you in "prime seating" since you said that you were a local?? Don't always think the worst…life is too short.

    • Duckworth Lewis says:

      Possibly locals don't need directions or travel assistance, where as visitors do.  Locals probably also have a local cell number that the restaurant can ask for, whereas visitors don't.  So someone asked you whether you were local or a visitor, and suddenly you are Cayman's answer to Rosa Parks?

    • Anonymous says:

      Examples of racism and xenophobia of course can be found in all countries and cultures, Cayman being no different.  I would argue there is generally less in Cayman as those feelings are generally bred from ignorance and the broad mix of races, nationalities, etc in Cayman I think does minimize that.  However, I find your example and premise quite confusing.  I suppose you can call what you experienced “profiling”, but I don’t see how any racism or xenophobia could be attributed to it.  It seems like Marketing 101.  You want to know who your customers are and if you’re marketing dollars are being effectively spent.  If a business wants to increase its tourist clientele, it will likely advertise in in-air magazines, produce flyers to be distributed to hotels, make agreements with hotel concierge services, etc.  Then of course, they’ll need to know if the money spent on those activities are having the desired effect to decide if they should continue down that path or reevaluate.  Nothing too sinister I can see in any of that.  

      The fact that in your example, you specifically state you were treated in the exact same manner as every other guest you saw makes the whole thing even more confusing.  The only taste of xenophobia I can spot in your entire post is “(by the foreign maitre-d of course)”.  What possible difference to your example could it have made if the maitre-d was foreign or local, black or white, gay or straight?  The fact you felt in some way compelled to throw that out I think points more to an issue with your feelings on the issue than any issue with an establishment attempting to run a modern marketing operation.

  7. Anonymous says:

    You do realize that there is a "bridge" right behind the Ritz Carlton that you drive over everyday. Do you see a canal going under it? Stop assuming and making a fuss out of everything, it only makes you look stupid and ignorant.

    • Anonymous says:

      In fact there is water under that bridge, it was done for golf carts and for the Ritz boats….

  8. Anonymous says:

     if a bridge can be built at this point why o why could one not have been built  to go over SMB road instead of the public losing it ?????????????????????????????????????? I always new caymanians did not count ,but I at least thought that the fancy white folk  paying 3000+ in strata did . oh well.

  9. Anonymous says:

    West Bayers are to blame for this one. Without Mac and his fries, none of this would happen.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Anonymous 14:21 – "Caymanians build a mountain of trash"!!!??? This is the height of foreigner disrespect and prejudice which has casued many Caymanians to react in kind.

    May I ask if the garbage generated by persons residing in Cayman other than Caymanians is dumped somewhere other than Mount Trashmore?? So why is it only "Caymanians" building this mountain of trash?

    CNS, I respect the right of most blogs to be posted but crap like that is purely xenophobic and inflammatory and should not be posted.

    • Anonymous says:

      Chill out for goodness sake…

    • Anonymous says:

      08:32 you are so correct.  Can y6ou imagine if we have more foreigners here than Cayman population, then pray tell me where the garbage is comming from.

    • Like It Is says:

      It is not inflammatory or xenophobic. Since only Caymanians are permitted to vote for the politicians that stood by and let the dump grow and grow, it is a perfectly accurate comment.  Had the islands been a touch more democratic things may well have been different.

    • Anonymous says:

      Wow, you should try being an expat in Cayman for a week and live with the xenophobic, racist crap you have to put up with.

  11. BornCaymanian says:

    I have vivid memories of IVAN.  Folks the time may come again and I may not be around, but trust me the next time the beautiful 7miles beach may not be that beautiful. I can visualize the dirty North Sound meeting up with the beautiful 7 miles Beach. It nearly happened as it was, with all this cutting through and mangrove buffer destruction, its inevitable.  Most of you bloggers, were not here to see what happened, but trust me…it nearly did. West Bay interior did not get too much storm surge, but with all this destruction of protective barriers, West Bay may not survive the next big one.  Remember the formation of these Islands, especially Grand Cayman.  The North Sound has a crater like image and Hell was not a happenstance, lots of dormant dirty ash lies within, if disturbed it can become activated too, proceed with caution plese kind greedy investors.  Beauty is only cosmetic, check what is within and see the ugliness.  Be warned and proceed with caution, mother nature is a very deceiving and controlled force. Bigger than anything human!….Just Saying.

    • Anonymous says:

      West Bay is some of the highest rock on Grand Cayman (pardon the pun).  The only ash in Hell is from the spliff you're smoking.

  12. The lone haranguer rides again! says:

    I going to save a lot of gas no having to go round NW Piont to get to SMB, I just hope that the mutant north sound bara does not mate with the snaggle toothed west coast poisoned bara, and it’s toxic offspring invades Georgetown and destroys the GOAP !!

  13. Anonymous says:

    What a sad mess we have put ourselves into.

    Government pays money to employ qualified staff at the Planning Department and the Department of the Environment.

    Government does not pay attention to any report from either of these departments.

    Developer is getting duty concessions everywhere you look.

    Developer hides under Government's frock…to avoid Planning and DOE 

    Developer is getting richer and more land by the day.

    Government more indebt everyday (financially and otherwise)

    Planning & DOE receives notification of road/bridge construction and mangrove destruction from the media.

    Politicians are getting fatter and richer by the day. 

    Average person is getting poorer by the second.

    Unethical people run this country.

    I gave up prayingg for an election as the Developer will have everything he needs and wants by May.  Now I pray for less greed and more brains in our voters.  

  14. Anonymous says:

    Build the bridge…………finish the road……….just get somthing moving and finished

    on this rock.  Cayman needs a stimulous and it needs it now !!!!

  15. Mr. GOF says:

    As an individual who lives in the Cayman Islands Yacht Club who has seen this project progress from the begining i would just like to clarify somthing. In regards to the clearing of the mangrove and dykes, the MRCU placed a machine in the dykes several months back to clear out these water ways as they were grown over and filled in. If anyone would like any further proof that the MRCU is working on the dyke system in West Bay i encourage them to take a drive into west bay where the same excavator cleared those dykes over a year back. THESE WERE TWO DIFFERENT PROJECTS TAKING PLACE IN THE YACHT CLUB. As caymanians we are making ourselfs look ignorant by not using the facts and relying soley on our observations which in this case are incorrect. 

    • Sigh says:

      Who needs facts when there is a chance to complain about Dart or the government?

  16. Anonymous says:

    Those are the MRCU dykes that have been there for years.

  17. Grimes says:

    Gonna save me time and money getting out to the Banks. Thank you again Dart!

  18. Anonymous says:

     

    Just a thought…do bridges only traverse water.

    Did anyone ever think that it might just be a bridge so an access road can pass under the by-pass instead of creating another round a bout.

    Some folks are very narrow minded thinkers. Lets find out the facts before we jump down the developers throat!

     

    • Anonymous says:

      I hadn't thought of that, and bridges are so much cheaper to build than roundabouts.  This way the north-south traffic from West Bay to George Town will not be slowed down by the east-west traffic from Little Cayman to Cozumel.

  19. Anonymous says:

    If Mac's deal with the Chinese for the port project goes ahead, you will want to kiss the ground that Dart walks on.

  20. Anonymous says:

    Jimmy Hoffa is buried under this bridge………

  21. Anonymous says:

    Bridge Loan, Bridge Loan……..ya that's it.

    This had been planned and approved (quietly I might add) some time ago.

    This bridge is being built to allow the Dart Water Taxi Service to ferry customers

    from 7-Mile Beach (cruise shippers) and guest of the new hotel (For Cayman) to

    Camana Bay to wine, dine, and shop in Dart stores.  Along the canal that will be

    built is a path for golf carts for the 18+  hole golf course that is being planned for the new

    resort and to be connected to the three "links style"  7-Mile beach front golf holes

    and The North Sound Club.

    FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE CAYMAN !!  ie. look out !!!!!

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Really silly comment. Who would drive the cruise ship folks 2 miles PAST camana bay to put them on a boat to sail back to camana bay? Instead of a troll button we should also have a fool button for these posts.

    • Anonymous says:

      Unless yuo can show me the masterplan, there is only one thing I have to say to you…BULLCRAP.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Interesting to note a local activist is concerned with "Sea surging in from North Sound"..!

    Whereas the developer of the South sound canal and bridge project (on land which he does not own), is blind to the possibility of sea suge from South Sound where hurricaned normally cause the most damage….

    Let's hear from the local activist on this one which is not rumor but fact. 

  23. Anonymous says:

    Oh stop moaning!!!  The CPA would never have passed this as a bridge over a canal. There is no-way that Dart has any influence with CPA decisions. There is no proof of that. This is clearly a Conservation Enhancement Toll & Nature Building Tunnel. The purpose of which is to allow returning turtles to travel far inland to lay their eggs and avoid being slaughtered unless they live at the Turtle Farm. It will also provide a safe passage for all of those crabs who need to get back to the sea instead of always trying to pull everyone down with them and finally, if there is still any room left, it will be designated part of the Economic Zone where non indigenous iguanas can be traded tax free along with Cayman Roosters and other chicks that are causing certain people problems. 

    • Anonymous says:

      If you are a developer by definition you have influence with the decisions of a CPA chaired by Mr. A.L. Thompson, Jr. 

  24. Anonymous says:

    Cool it everybody.    Just relax.    Dart owns both sides of the road and is sensibly making sure that both sides can be accessed without the need to interrupt the flow of traffic north/south on thenew highway extension.   There are no plans for a canal.

    However, all of you so outraged at the thought of canal and bridge will no doubt be objecting to the Emerald Sound development planning to destroy South Sound's tranquility.

     

     

     

    • Anonymous says:

      You are wrong.  The bridge will be  there for a canal.  The plans have not been made public yet but that is what it is for.

  25. Anonymous says:

    To poster 09:26 if you dig deep enough you might get cut off from westbay. You dig tunnels not bridges .so you are already cut off.

  26. Anonymous says:

    Dont worry! Miller and his team of merry independents are coming soon! And when that happens the last person to leave Cayman can turn off the light.

    • Anonymous says:

      If they haven't left under McKeeva there should be no reason to leave then.

  27. Anonymous says:

    DART is taking over my friend. Pretty soon Grand Cayman will be renamed Grand DART. 

    • . says:

      And it can't happen too soon.

    • Shark hugger says:

      Personally, I prefer Dart Island, but Grand Dart could work.  For all those goof balls out there that believe we should wait until the construction is completed…has it ever occurred to you that by then it will be too late?

      It may be too late already.  Mac is a puppet on a stage and Dart is pulling all the strings.  Please keep these clowns off the Sister Islands so at least they will not be destroyed.     

    • Anonymous says:

      Will he take the Sister Islands of DART Brac and Little DART, too.

      • Anonymous says:

        I think it will be more like:- Grand Camana, Camana Brac and Little Camana!! Cuz, you KNOW he was given that promise in the "contract" too! Gov't should hang their head in shame knowing that if anything was to happen to this island Mr. D is going to be the first one outta here w/ his nearest and dearest. And where will the rest of us be? Yeah, you got it, waste deep in WATER! Thanks "U.nna D.isgraceful P.unks".

    • Anonymous says:

      Possibly better than Grand McKeeva!

      • Anonymous says:

        Sounds good to me, i would prefer Dart, than Grand Idiots. Why are you all so jealous of Dart? is it becuse he has more money than you?

        For the last 35 years another developer built up 4 miles of your beaches and nothing was said. Give the man a break, you hypocrites!

  28. noname says:

    That going be one nice view from up there

  29. A Warning says:

    Cayman was perfect from the day it was born.

    Traitors are among us selling out to forces of evil.

    • Anonymous says:

      A  perfect little swamp in the middle of the sea.  Perfect place for pirates to hide from the world.  Now the pirates are crying.

  30. Anonymous says:

    The bridge is not much of a mystery but where is Bush and who is paying for his "secret" vacation is the real mystery.

    • Annie get your gun says:

      He's on an island off Honduras, and WE are paying the bill.

  31. Anonymous says:

    Dart builds a bridge, a road, Camana bay, etc.  and he builds them nice.  the Caymanian government has only built debt.  Caymanians build a mountain of trash.  The only difference is Dart is not crying about the  mountain.  Allthough he did try to fix that too.  Why is it that Darts the bad guy again?

    • Anonymous says:

      You cannot see further than the end of your nose. The stupidity of Dart builds nice things = Dart is a nice guy and we should hand over the country to him is unbelievable.

      • cow itch says:

        a hell wit dart, mckeewa, gowament, and bling-bling, i gone in bush to build me own hut !

        (:))> one and only cowitch

      • noname says:

        So why is Dart a bad guy again?  I understand many Caymanians can't stand him I just don't know why.  Especially when put next to any Caymanian developer.  Or Caymanian leader.  And who said anything about handing the country over to him?  Not that that is a bad idea.  I don't think anyone could do worst than what you got now.  My original post is just stating the facts about who builds what.

    • Anonymous says:

      I guess this is a troll comment in that it successfully pulls most peoples attention away from the real discussion of the "bridge" (built exactly how the bridge over a canal at the Ritz was built).

  32. Anonymous says:

    The Cayman Islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman and the Republic.

    • Anonymous says:

      All of you Caymanians are like a bunch of osterichs with your heads in the sand at all times!!! The Ritz had you all fooled, sand in front of the mangroves which were being destroyed, jobs being promised to Caymanians, yet they have more work permits then anyone else, now Dart, he can do whatever he wants to do…Camana Bay?  Who has all the jobs there?  Everyone knows Michael Ryan owes all this money to the Cayman Islands and absolutely nothing is being done about it…if it was you, you would be in court or a "repossess" sign would be in your front lawn or your car being taken away.  Caymanians sold their beach to foreigners, they sold their Island to foreigners, whats the difference from years gone by to today????

  33. Anonymous says:

    There wont be any 'super' yachts traversing this canal & passing under the bridge. The bridge would have to be in excess of 70 feet high to accomodate the larger yachts. These yachts also wont be crossing North Sound with its average 8 foot water depth. As another contributor illustrates, most likely a bridge similar to that at the Ritz.

  34. Anonymous says:

    Planning should file an immediate injunction to cease this unauthrised work…. but its King Dart so approval is a rubber-stamped foregone conclusion

    Pathetic!

    =spits=

  35. Anonymous says:

    What is the surprise? this didn't happen over night, this has been in development for months now, you only needed to look down the road to see that a bridge was being built.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Right – I saw this in June!!  Perhaps, the Expat Tax controversy hid this!!!!

  36. Anonymous says:

    So one good hurricane comes through, takes out the bridge and West Bay is cut off. Hmmm
    Mm. Interesting….

    • Anonymous says:

      12:42… Actually the existing WB Road is far more prone to flooding and hurricane damage than the new road will be. 

       

  37. Anonymous says:

    You guys just don't get it, do you?

     

    This is Mackeeva building the  "escape  Mac" bridge to Cuba, and the reason why the budget has increased so much in recent years.

    It will mean we can all go and live there, (think how much land we will get!!!) and the Cubans can come and live here. The price the 10m of them have to pay is having him as their leader. They had about the same style in the last 50 years, so no difference for them. For him, a much bigger nation building fund and humungous civil service. And no one commenting much on it for a few years…he is building MacHeaven!!

  38. FIREMAN says:

    Maybe a canal from North Sound to West Bay Beach is planned as bush is about to establish The Democratic Republic of West Bay, and secede from the Cayman Islands – the bridge would then be the only access to WB. Watch out for any signs of a Toll Booth, and/or an Immigration Centre being built on the Northern side of the bridge – we might need a Visa as well.

    • Anonymous says:

      Excellent..let them build it, get them all over it and into Westbay and then lets blow it up..forget the immigration buildings, won't happen, no-one would go there as long as Mac was in control

    • Anonymous says:

      MacTroll will be hiding under the bridge ready to rant and rave at anyone who wants to cross the bridge.

      "Unna donkey faced devil worshippers. I hope unna trip and pop unna mout."

  39. Anonymous says:

    How is this any different to the bridge on the bypass that is adjacent to the rear of Ritz Carlton? Just asking?????????

    • Anonymous says:

      You have an option at the Ritz.   The bridge or West Bay Rd.

      • Anonymous says:

        Exactly.  Henceforth this bridge will be known as "Dart Bridge".  It will allow easy access to "Dart Hotel".

    • Anonymous says:

      this one may cause flooding juz like all the other ones ppl wanted 

      • Anonymous says:

        Yes bridges have been known to cause flooding.  And all development is bad.  Unless it is Caymanians building in a flood zone.  then its normal.

    • Chris Johnson says:

      So we now have two bridges over Trouble Water?

    • Anonymous says:

      The difference is the lack of planning applications for the bridge and the canals, that's the law! XXXX

  40. Seymour Butts says:

    "Oh! what a tangled web we weave
    When first we practice to deceive!"

    Sir Walter Scott

  41. Anonymous says:

    Dah wah u get !!

  42. Frankly Frank says:

    ever think this could be just a exit ramp to the beach access???  people are to jumpy…

    :s

  43. noname says:

    Ugh CNS just a few months or so ago you put some plans on your site which were allegedly smuggled out of somewhere by a concered citizen. I recall looking at the and they do show a canal going under the bridge and back down along the ETH towards Darts hotels. Looking at the plans it would cut around the Matthews hopsital residential block and through the Tiki beach car park leading right to the side of the hotel.

    Seems pretty clear to me what he intends to do.

  44. Anonymous101 says:

    A bridge typically does one thing: it allows a road to traverses an obstacle. In Cayman that essentially means either another road or a body of water (i.e. a canal). Bearing in mind the cost to put in a bridge (the amount of fill, design costs etc), and the proximity to the new round about it is HIGHLY unlikely to be going over another road. Therefore it is almost certain to be a canal – the real questions are whether it will be fed from North Sound (like Brittania and Canal Pt) or from 7MB and whether it will go all the way through the island… I suspect it will either be a feed from N Sound to enable a residential area to be built with canal lots or it will be a feed from 7MB to allow access to super yachts to reach a new marina to be built in the vacintiy of the yacht club. If the latter the bridge will need to be a liftable type (to allow the yachts through).

     

    • Anonymous says:

      I think you are grossly misguided.

      So you seriously think cutting a hole in SMB is their intention? Do you think a Mega Yacht could fit through this gap? NO.

      Don't you think there would need to be a whole lot more cement and construction to support a liftable bridge and obviusly that is not being done. So, NO. I don;t think so.

      In short, it would have made just as much sense to say it was a launch pad for future moon missions!

      Seriously !!!???

      • SSM345 says:

        Think again buddy (12:14), its now obvious to me why Capt Eugene is with the UDP!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      10:09

      You are smart, i would venture to say it is a canal planned for the future…. and i would hope it is.

      My vision of what Mr. Dart plans are, is to develope a mega resort on that wonderful piece of beach property, that he bought, which we sold him. I hope he does soon, and thank  him  for bringing development to this Island.

      Cayman is in need of a mega resort that will entise a different type of tourist.

        When some of us visit places like Disney World and  Miami Beach  and have to crawl over the tourist there. We do not see grass huts and  whompers. that should tell us something.  If you build it, they will come! right!

      Stop talking about the past and how we were back then. those catagory of tourist have died out years ago.

      Take a flight from London to Bahamas. 99% disembark in bahamas.they all  going to that concrete monster building… Atlantis..I say no more.

       

      • B. Onneste says:

        Yes, at disney World and Miami Beach you have to crawl over or fight your way through tourists….. and it sucks!  You say, "If you build it they will come."  You want people elbow-to-elbow here in the Caymans?  That would REALLY suck. 

        P.S.  You suck too.

        • Anonymous says:

          You missed the point, where have you been for the last 10 years,  we do need tourist here. Our industry has slowed down, while these modern resorts are overflowing. 

          No one wants a Miami Beach or disney world here . It was just an analysis   of what would bring more tourist to Cayman, once Mr. Dart develop his modern style of tourist resorts.

          Cayman need new concepts to attract the modern tourist. 

      • Anonymous says:

        The last BA flight I was on, the 99% who disembarked in Nassau were Filipino and far more likely to be workers than tourists staying at Atlantis.

  45. Anonymous says:

    here goes Dart again….and they wonder why he gets so much bad publicity….who is behind darts public relations??? why always so secret???

    of course thats a bridge….and of course its not on any public plan, because it'd be objected to and they dont want any more objections …..they seem to be operating along the principle of "ask for forgiveness, not for permission"

    there is absolutely no question that what is being built there is a bridge, and if you look at all the channelling, thats a bridge to go over future canal excavation, not a road….therefore its a bridge under which boats will travel most likely to one or more upscale hotel(s) that's not been announced yet but will have direct access to the north sound for charter boats, private luxury power boats, etc….pronbably not yachts as the chances of them being able to chanel for deep keels, or to build a bridge tall enough for decent masts are slim to none……

    i doubt even Dart would try to chop all the way into SMB because no money would buy that permission nor is there any money that would blind even the blind into thinking thats a good environmental idea…..so it'll be a 'private' marina type like Atlantis in Bahamas…they'll keep the millionaires in Camana Bay, and the billionaires will be able to boat into this little den of exclusiveness…..probably from their mega mansions in the surrounding areas….

    it'll probably be really nice actually….but the question is again, why does dart continue to operate in secrecy instead of just showing what they're up to……its amazing, if you treat people with a bit of respect and stop hiding….they tend to like you

    • SSM345 says:

      Last time I checked, it was Mac and the UDP cutting all the deals with DART who are under no obligation to announce any of their intended plans, thats Macs job as he works for us, not DART.

      Why don't you ask the MLA's why they are so silent on the matter?

      Caymn is being sold out by one person and one person only, McKeeva. He is the person who should be explaining this, they are no two ways about it.

      A Fed Up Caymanina.

      • Anonymous says:

        Cayman is being sold out by more than just MAC. Don't let the tag along's fool you into thinking that they don't know and approve of what is happening.

        • SSM345 says:

          11:46, none of them fooling me, but Mac fooling all of them, the people of these islands and the UK all at the same time.

      • B. Onneste says:

        Yes, SSM345!  Tell it like it is!

  46. Anonymous says:

    Dart is doing something  without anyones knowledge (maybe just the Premiers)……who would have thought.

  47. Anonymous says:

    good thing this isn't in south sound, those ppl in that area would freak out at sumthing new.

    • Anonymous says:

      Generally those that can afford to live in South Sound do not use words like "ppl" or "sumthing".  Is typing "people" or "something" too much to ask?

      • Anonymous says:

        Troll!  False pretender!  Faux elitist!  Cockney turn royalty!

        This is the e-age!  So what if ppl use abbreviations in these web messages?

        You understood it well enough..

        So, why insinate the writer is ignorant / uneducated, and that is so because they don't  "live in your elite neighbourhood"?

        If you are so bright, go solve the South Sound dilemmas.

        SMH

        • Asbo Zaprudder says:

          I am not a "faux elitist".  I am an elitist.  Elitism is undervalued nowadays.  It saves so much time and allocates resources more effectively.  But my exceptionally expensive education never did extend to learning the meaning of the word "insinate".

      • Anonymous says:

        yup.

        • Anonymous says:

          The interesting thing is that this poster thinks he is smart (it is usually men who act like this), but employers consider him a nasty little oik with an attitude problem.

    • Anonymous says:

      Your comment reads like an uneducated idiot. Try to learn some proper English before you post again.

    • Anonymous says:

      And YOU'RE NOT freaking out…?

  48. Anonymous says:

    Although we all don't know for sure what's happening on the highway, bridges are built for other reasons besides just going over waterways. Hasn't anyone heard of an overpass? Bridge overpasses are often built over other roadways. Personally, I am going to wait to see what happens first before getting all wound up by a fear of the unknown. If they start digging through a canal, then I'll worry.

    • Anonymous says:

      I wish they'd thought about a few overpasses here to help the flow of traffic, rather than all these blinking roundabouts!

  49. Anonymous says:

    Dart has three or four hotels planned for that strip of land. it will be a channel cut to  go from the yacht club area to the back of the hotels.  Similar to the one at the Ritz. 

    We must remember folks, that  Dart , if the deal goes through, will basically have full control over tourism on the Seven Mile beach strip.  He will have concessions that will make it impossible for anyone else to compete with him.  West Bays connection to the "mainland"  will be dependent on one bridge.

    When you wonder years down the road where Cayman went remember that we allowed this Government to to hand it over to Dart.

    • And then... says:

      After that the only issue will be how to close that one bridge and let West Bay finally be free to separate and become a dictatorship with His Royal Highness The Honourable and Most Exhaulted Magnanimous Master KeKe in charge.  Maybe every year we could buy KeKe a new fridge and push it accross the bridge in exchange for his promise to stay the xxxx over there on his side.  I'm just saying…

      • B. Onneste says:

        That makes sense to me.   I'm glad I don't live in West Bay.

      • Anonymous says:

        Or Capt Who-gene? could sail it over the Republic Barge Express they are buying with the NBF.

    • Anonymous says:

      The hotels already exist, the Marriott, The Westin, The Ritz and The Hyatt.

  50. Anonymous says:

    thats the sea view everyone said we would be missing

  51. Anonymous says:

    Is there any chance that West Bay could be cut off completely?  If so, I am in for helping dig the bridge.  My vehicle and household insurance would go down.

    • Anonymous says:

      What is West Bay really like?  Is it as bad as they say?  In all my years here, I have never had any reason to go there, apart from a terrifying night trip to the Calypso Grill.

  52. Anonymous says:

    It's all speculation until we see a plan, they MUST have a plan, where is it and can we see it? If not WHY not?!

  53. Anonymous says:

    For some reason I find myself humming "Like a bridge over troubled waters".

  54. Anonymous says:

    Dart knows what he is doing, and I am happy he is not telling untill it is finished.  why don't you people go home and find something to do..  Leave the man alone.  Everything he has done for the Island is done very well, and it is his land and his money and his time.

  55. Anonymous says:

    'concerned citizens?'……zzzzzzzzzzz

  56. Anonymous says:

    It would appear that certain concerned citizens what to sensationalize this for political motive.

    The old dyke roads appear to been reinstated and mangrove overgrowth only on the edges cut back to facilitiate access. That would be logical.

    The bridge probably is going to be something like what they have currently at the Ritz-Carlton. Not for cutting the island in half !!

    So people, please use some common sense.

  57. Anonymous says:

    So Dart is capable of building a bridge, which we know and is no real surprise.

    They should have been forced to build a bridge by the Courtyard Marriott, so that they could have beach access underneath and vehicular traffic overhead. This way the West Bay Road would not have been interfered with.

    "Oh what a woeful web we weave, when we set out to deceive " – Shakespeare

    • Anonymous says:

      Shakespeare already has enough problems without you misquoting someone else and attributing it to him.

      • And then... says:

        It wasn't Flakey Shakey, and it wasn't Sir Walter Scott; it was my cousin McKeeva who first said that, except it was actually: "Best a tangled web to weave, 'cause there's money to be had if you deceive." …or something like that.

      • Anonymous says:

        Awesome.

      • Anonymous says:

        Some people cannot contribute anything else except nitpicking?

        The writers argument is sound, and that should be the focus not on endless trivia.