Pothole initiative brings relief to St Peter roads

Residents of St Peter are getting some much-needed relief from deteriorating roads, with the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) concentrating on pothole repairs across the parish.

The initiative, which began on Tuesday, saw MTW crews and equipment deployed to several areas, including Warleigh, Farm Road, Four Hill, Douglas Development and Church Hill Road.

Minister of Transport and Works Kirk Humphrey said the ministry’s aim was to address some of the major road problems while also responding to concerns raised by residents.

He said: “We would have announced on Sunday that we would be bringing the resources of the ministry to the parish of St Peter to address some of the potholes in the area. We were able to do that.”

Humphrey said the work had also reached a number of roads, adding:  “The intention here is to be able to bring all of the resources to be able to address the major roads”, he said. 

While the patching is expected to provide immediate relief, Humphrey acknowledged concerns about how long some of the repairs would last.

“Residents have expressed some other concerns to me since I’ve been here. One, the belief that the roads are not going to last even after we’ve done the patching. 

“That’s why we’ve brought the rollers and so on. And in some cases, this is a temporary measure and some of these roads will be assigned to major contractors to be able to make the roads rehabilitated in a better way.”

St Peter MP Colin Jordan said residents were already seeing the benefits of the work, particularly in areas where poor roads had become a concern.

In Four Hill, St Peter, Jordan said: “I’m really happy to report that further to Senior Minister Humphrey’s announcement that work will be starting on rehabilitating some of the roads, especially the potholes across St Peter, I’m really, really happy to report that work is well on the way.”

He added: “We also recognise work having started in the Farm Road and that’s important because Farm Road has been in a very bad state of repair because of issues with the water mains, but also because Farm Road has become a significant thoroughfare for heavy trucks doing construction work in the Heywoods area. 

“And so the residents are happy to see some work being done in the Farm Road area.”

Jordan said preparation was also taking place on Niles Road and Miller Road, while work had been carried out along Douglas Development and Church Hill Road.

“For those from St Peter who know the road that also goes, what we say as, ‘below the nun’s wall,’ which is Church Hill Road that goes onto the Highway 1B close to Millionaire Road, that road is being prepared so that some work can be done and that can again be used as an access road coming from Coleridge and Parry School.”

Back in Four Hill, Jordan said the programme was targeting the areas most affected by potholes.

“This programme where we are trying to identify the worst areas with reference to potholes, the work is well on the way and I must say that I am satisfied that I can see the resources of the Ministry of Transport and Works being brought to bear. 

“There are workers here from across the north and maybe further afield. There’s equipment. I’m particularly happy that we are seeing the rollers.”

For residents who have faced repeated vehicle repairs because of the road conditions, the work is being welcomed as a step in the right direction.

“We expect that while patching is not a permanent solution, we believe that it will hold us until we can do better,” Jordan said.

“Residents have been asking for relief. Relief because they’ve had to buy shocks, replace parts. We have heard, we are answering.”

Humphrey said the ministry’s work would extend beyond pothole patching, with attention also being given to other road and infrastructure concerns.

“My plan for St Peter when we leave is to make sure we leave St Peter a lot better than we found it in relation to the roads, in relation to the signs, in relation to the [de-]bushing.”

He also commended the MTW workers carrying out the repairs for “working very, very, very hard to make this a reality”. 

“A number of potholes have been fixed and a number more are to be fixed,” Humphrey said.

(LE)