THREE months ago, a landslip crumbled the roadway that connects the Charuma Junction Trace in Rio Claro, blocking at least 40 households from traversing its length and countless commuters who daily frequented the route.

The trace, also known as the Navet Short Cut, has for years been used by east coast motorists attempting to move through Tabaquite Road to other parts of the region. But last December, it began caving. By January, residents told the Express it had completely collapsed.

'It was hollow and you could see the pipelines below. It started to break off suddenly, a quarter of the road dropped down like a sinkhole and they just blocked it,' one resident told the Express yesterday.