Test pits for Hopewell to Rugby as pre-construction work starts on Highway 2 in St Thomas

Starting Monday, February 17, test pits will be dug along Highway 2, from Hopewell Plantation to Rugby Plantation in St Thomas, for approximately 15 days. This is being done as the Ministry of Transport and Works prepares for the full reconstruction of Highway 2 from Cane Garden to Bridgefield in St Thomas.

Infra Construction Inc., the contractor working for the MTW, will excavate small sections of the existing road to inspect and assess its subbase. As a result, traffic approaching test pit locations will be reduced to a single lane. Traffic wardens will be on-site to guide motorists. By the end of each day, open test pits will be refilled with compacted marl to facilitate regular traffic flow.

Test pits are a crucial preparatory step in road construction, as they allow engineers and the construction team to identify potential challenges such as soft spots, soil and rock composition, the condition of the base course layer, as well as groundwater levels.

MTW will fully reconstruct Highway 2, from Cane Garden to Bridgefield in St Thomas under the CAF Roads Programme, which is funded by the Development Bank for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Ongoing projects under this CAF programme include the rehabilitation of Prior Park Road in St. James, Highway D from Content to Shop Hill in St Thomas, and Rock Dundo St James to Gibbs, St. Peter. (PR)