First phase of Highway 1 project completed

The Highway 1 phase one project, which commenced on November 2 2020, has been completed.

Minister of Transport and Works and Water Resources Ian Gooding-Edghill, during a media tour today, showed the completed project, which had a budgeted cost of $15.2 million.

He informed that the last section of the highway was completed on Thursday, August 11, resulting in a vastly improved highway for services for residents, businesses and motorists who use the major stretch of roadway.

According to Gooding-Edghill, the highway is now equipped with two water mains, gas mains and provision for underground electricity on both sides of the road.

He announced that in the coming weeks, the project manager will begin snagging, which is the process of checking building works and compiling a list of unsatisfactory or outstanding works to be done.

Gooding-Edghill said: “There are some outstanding areas for foot paths to be completed, soil to be laid above some footpaths, manhole covers to be raised to bring them flush with the road surface and a few inlets for drainage to be completed”.

“We have identified some secondary roads that we will have to repave and we are reviewing the costs and the financing for such work,” he added.

The Minister thanked the contractors and more than 500 workers who worked on the project making its completion a reality. He explained that the Barbados Light and Power Company (BL&P) has invested approximately $5 million in the project as part of their capital expenditure programme to gradually move to the provision of underground utility. He also indicated that the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) and the National Petroleum Corporation also invested millions in new pipes and fittings.

“Having completed the first phase, consideration will be given to phase two of Highway 1. My Ministry is finalizing estimates to present to the Ministry of Finance for their consideration. The Ministry will be recommending another 4 km of highway to be reconstructed and paved north of the completion of phase one,” he said.

The Minister thanked the residents and businesses for their patience, understanding, tolerance and cooperation during the period of construction. (AH)