THE ABC HIGHWAY can support a four-lane highway expansion, as well as the installation of flyover structures.

This assurance comes from David Buddemeyer, vice-president of Hillis-Carnes, a United States based geotechnical engineering company.

He said the company conducted research between 2006 and 2007 to determine if the ground beneath the project area of the highway could accommodate the expansive construction.

During the planning stages of the proposed flyover project, he said, officials from Hillis-Carnes conducted a geo-technical engineering study that included test drilling.

From the drilling, Buddemeyer said, officials collected core samples from over 100 test holes throughout the project at depths of up to 60 feet to assess Barbados' soil and what it was capable of supporting.

In addition, he said an electrical resistivity testing was also conducted in March.

"Through this process, a three-dimensional profile of the ground below the project area was developed to identify potential cavities or voids and an accurate mapping of the entire underground area was generated.

"The results from these tests allowed for the design of each flyover structure to match the corresponding soil conditions, making them entirely safe and ensuring the longevity of each structure," he said.

Additionally, he complimented 3S Barbados SRL for having geo-technical research done as a precautionary measure.

He said technicians from Hillis-Carnes would be on hand until the end of the project to ensure quality control was maintained.

His observation came a day after the engineer body, the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers, criticised part of the design of the ABC Highway expansion project as having the potential to cause accidents. (PR)