Hagley Gap, Jamaica

The Blue Mountain Project (BMP) serves the communities of Hagley Gap, Minto, Epping Farm, and Penlyne Castle. The total population of the service area is approximately 2500. Each year as hurricane season approaches, persons living in the Blue Mountains prepare for the worst.  The BMP medical clinic was built in 2005. The road to the clinic follows the path of the Negros River and has been slowly deteriorating due to the high volume of rain and continued flooding. If the road suffers more erosion the clinic could become inaccessible by motor vehicle. The primary objective of this project is to design and build a retaining wall that will prevent further erosion of the road. Another objective is to design and build a composting toilet for the patients that visit the medical clinical and for BMP staff.

In July 2008, SU-EWB made a site assessment trip to Hagley Gap. Led by EWB professional partner and geotechnical engineer Joe Souther, SU students Patrick Cummings, Dylan Martin and Ian Tromble were joined Dwane Blackwood and Ramon Francis who are students from the University of Technology Jamaica. The team traveled to the Gap and conducted a topographic survey of the area. The students are currently assessing design alternatives for the retaining walls which include using Gabion baskets walls. Given the presence of large quantities of rock and junked cars, a modified Gabion wall (Detroit Rip Rap) is being considered.

The team plans to return to Hagley Gap during the winter of 2009 to build the wall and install the composting toilet.