West coast roads for repair

Roadworks on a section of Highway 1 are scheduled to begin next week.

This was revealed by Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources Ian Gooding-Edghill, who said Phase 1 of the project, which forms part of the Highway 1 Rehabilitation Programme, would commence from the Frank Walcott roundabout at the bottom of University Hill.

The Minister said the project had an overall cost of $15.2 million.

Gooding-Edghill said Government had engaged residents and businesses through two virtual townhall meetings where they heard about the proposed works on that stretch of road for the first time in two decades.

“For the first time in 20 years, those who have to traverse that road, the highway, will be realizing the benefits of their Government hard at work at improving the infrastructure of Barbados,” he noted.

Phase 1 will see work being done from the Frank Walcott roundabout to Seaview. Phase 2, which runs from Seaview to Six Men’s, St Peter, will commence next year.

Gooding-Edghill said the roadwork was necessary to not only replace old mains, but to also upgrade technology.

“For a very long time we have had major disruptions as it relates to the supply of water because as you appreciate mains that have been there for in excess of 100 years. That will always cause a problem because based on the practice of cutting across the roads and so on, you will find yourself in a situation where the road would have been destabilized and it has now reached a point where we have to start thinking and planning for the future of Barbados,” he said.

He said 100-year-old mains on both sides of the road would be replaced.

Additionally, he said they would be relaying a 12-inch main on the western side or seaside of the road; a six-inch main on the landside and installing a new gas main.

Gooding-Edghill said the utility companies including FLOW would also be installing mains and for the first time there would be a duct system which would allow the Barbados Light and Power Company (BL&P) to facilitate future connectivity with underground cabling facilities.

He said the ministry was moving away from the practice of having power lines above ground and laying them underground.

The minister said they were also going to replace six culverts with larger ones as well as improve the drainage system on that coast.

Gooding-Edghill said when finished, Highway 1 would be milled and paved and there would be improved footpaths; manhole covers that are flushed or level with the highway and improved signage on the road.

“The infrastructure is not what it ought to be and we have to restore the infrastructure of Barbados if we wish to compete, wish to keep our people happy, if we wish to have businesses going on the stretch, we have to build out our infrastructure, not only on Highway 1 but across Barbados,” Gooding-Edghill said. (RB)