MTWW & IDB officials tour roads under IDB-funded project

The Project Execution Unit of the Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources (MTWW) has concluded a series of meetings, held this week with officials from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). 

The meetings formed part of the IDB’s administrative mission to Barbados to evaluate and receive an update on roadworks that began in August 2022 under the IDB-funded Road Rehabilitation and Improving Connectivity of Road Infrastructure project, as well as the progress of the other components of the US$25 million loan.

Nine major roads across the island were earmarked for construction and refurbishment. They are the ABC Highway from the Clyde Walcott roundabout to the Norman Niles roundabout; Belle Road, St. Michael; Barclays Park to Belleplaine, St. Andrew (the Ermy Bourne Highway); Carmichael Road, St. George; Crane to Sam Lords, St. Philip; Hothersal from the Clyde Walcott Roundabout to Lears Roundabout, St. Michael; Lears Road, St. Michael; Henry Forde Roundabout to Searles, Christ Church, and Searles, Christ Church to Six Roads, St. Philip.

Ministry officials conducted a tour of the nine civil works sites with IDB Project Team Leader and Transport Senior Specialist, Christopher Persaud, and Operations Senior Associate, Janette Archer-Headley. They were joined by the IDB General Manager for the Caribbean, Tariq Alli, and Country Representative in Barbados, Viviana Alva Hart.

MTWW’s Project Manager Dave Scantlebury reported that work was already completed at the ABC Highway, and Hothersal from the Clyde Walcott Roundabout to Lears Roundabout, St. Michael. He added that five of the other roads will be completed by March 31, 2023. 

However, Mr Scantlebury disclosed that Crane to Sam Lord’s, St. Philip, and Ermy Bourne Highway from Barclays Park to Belleplaine, St. Andrew would not meet the project’s deadline, which coincides with the end of Government’s financial year, March 31, 2023. 

During the week, officials from both organisations met with representatives of the Public Investment Unit of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. They also met with stakeholders from the Transport Authority, the Transport Board, and the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training to discuss other ministry and project related initiatives such as the Park and Ride/School Bus Pilot, and the Sustainability Mobility and Transport Investment Programme. (PR/MTWW)