Statement By Minister For Communications And Works Honourable Mark Vanterpool
At Third Sitting Of The Forth Session Of
The Second House Of Assembly On Road Improvement Works

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Madam Speaker, permit me to present this update to this Honourable House on road improvement works, as this Government continues to improve the quality of the road network throughout the Territory.

Madam Speaker, the Public Works Department is undertaking four (4) major projects on Tortola at the moment, even as other road resurfacing takes place, as necessary, on all of the islands.

One is the Beef Island to Parham Town Road Improvement.

Madam Speaker, the resurfacing of a little over half a mile of road has been completed, with the installation of proper drainage and some sidewalks, from the Beef Island Bridge to Parham Town.

This is the completion of the first phase of the Ministry’s Major Road Improvement Plan throughout the Territory.

On the eastern part of the island, major road improvements will continue, following the installation of the gravity fed sewerage lines from Parham Town junction to Long Swamp.

This will include a full road resurfacing, including sidewalks and drainage improvements.

The final phase of the East End road improvements will follow the force main sewerage line installation from Long Swamp to Paraquita Bay later this year.

In the meantime, another phase of road improvements has begun from Rudy’s Bar in Meyer’s to the Soldier Hill junction.

This project includes drainage improvement, culvert crossings, retaining walls and complete asphalt resurfacing of this road. This project, which began this week, is expected to last three months.

Another phase of road improvements that is in the design stage is the Belle Vue Junction to Spring Ghut and this is expected to start by early April.

Madam Speaker, Cabinet has been informed of the Ministry’s Major Road Improvement Programme as follows:

Madam Speaker, Alpha Engineering, a firm out of Trinidad and Tobago, whose expertise lies in road development and reconstruction, has been advising the Public Works Department in this project.

Madam Speaker, a team from the Ministry of Communications and Works, led by the Minister, visited Jost Van Dyke towards the end of last month and our engineers have already started to design the completion of the East End Road, from the Public Works Department compound to Foxy’s Taboo.

We are also working on the upgrade of The Bottom Road in Great Harbour.   We will be erecting guard rails on the top of the hill on the road to East End on Jost Van Dyke; undertaking repairs to the White Bay dock; extending the roof of the ferry dock at Great Harbour to create a waiting area; and looking into the possibility of paving the road and the parking area around the dock.

On Anegada, we are undertaking general repairs to the main road; extending the road network down to Cow Wreck and resurfacing the airport road.

On Virgin Gorda, following the Lee Road drainage rehabilitation, a complete repaving of the Lee Road will be undertaken.

In addition, other sub roads in The Valley are targeted for paving.

We are reconstructing the storm drains from the Methodist Church through to the Public Works Department; carrying out rehabilitation works at Waldo Road to include curbs and slipper drains; installing sidewalks along Millionaire Street down to the Administration Building; drainage improvement behind M&M Bakery to Lee Road and road repairs at Savannah Bay Hill to Pond Bay.

These and major and minor works, Madam Speaker, that are planned for this year.

Permit me to commend the Ministry of Communications and Works, through the leadership of now confirmed Permanent Secretary Mr. Anthony McMaster and also the Director of the Public Works Department Mr. Jeffrey Skelton, for working very hard on these projects.

Thank you very much Madam Speaker.