BY BGIS | AUG 25, 2022
A team from C.O. Williams Construction Ltd conducting preparatory work in Shorey Village, St. Andrew for the Scotland District Road and Bridge Rehabilitation Project, which will include road rehabilitation and drainage improvements. (W. Murray/MTWW)
The road works phase of the BDS$230 million Scotland District Road and Bridge Rehabilitation Project officially started at Shorey Village, St Andrew on Monday, August 22.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley gave this update during a recent town hall meeting entitled St. Andrew Speaks, which was held at the Alleyne School in Belleplaine, St Andrew.
The town hall’s panel also included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources, Santia Bradshaw, as well as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources (MTWW), and Representative for St. Andrew, Dr. Romel Springer.
During the discussion with residents of the parish, Prime Minister Mottley disclosed that the Scotland District Road and Bridge Rehabilitation Project is being funded through a low-interest loan. “That is a Chinese loan that we have gotten from the Chinese Government. It is $230 million at two per cent. The difference in the savings to the Government of Barbados will be significant and therefore will allow us to do even more roads and more infrastructure projects elsewhere, because instead of paying interest at eight or nine per cent, you are paying at two per cent,” Prime Minister Mottley said.
Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources, Santia Bradshaw reiterated that work had commenced at Shorey Village, and shared that Vaughn’s Road, St. Joseph was the next location on the schedule for the Scotland District Road and Bridge Rehabilitation Project. Ms. Bradshaw emphasized that “it was not easy getting to this point” and outlined that several investigative studies had been conducted to determine the best approach to conducting road works in the Scotland District within the shortest time frame possible.
“We are trying to pull all the stops to be able to accelerate this programme as well as to get many rural construction companies involved,” she said.
Minister Bradshaw also noted that White Hill, St. Andrew is included in the Scotland District Road and Bridge Rehabilitation Project. She said that location remains a high priority for government, and stated that to date geotechnical studies have been completed and road designs are ongoing but are in their final stage.
MTWW’s Deputy Chief Technical Officer (Operations), Philip Tudor had indicated through a Ministry press release that the Scotland District Road and Bridge Rehabilitation Project is anticipated to last three years.
“It will see 109 roads and 12 bridges being rehabilitated. These 109 roads span approximately 225 kilometres covering roads in St. Andrew, St. Joseph, St. Thomas and parts of St. John and St. Philip. Following the work in Shorey Village, work will begin at Vaughn’s Road No. 2, St. Joseph, White Hill and Bruce Vale Bridge, which is also known as Thompson Bridge, in St. Andrew. Soil testing has already been done in White Hill in preparation for the design works to be carried out, while bridge designs for Bruce Vale have been completed,” Mr. Tudor stated.
Work at Shorey Village, St. Andrew is being conducted by C.O. Williams Construction Limited and it will include road rehabilitation and drainage improvement. It is anticipated that there will be no major disruption to traffic during the road works at Shorey Village; however, residents and road users are advised that there may be some noise and dust disturbance. The Shorey Village bus service will not be affected.
MTWW’s Parliamentary Secretary, Dr. Romel Springer assured residents that he will continue to listen to their concerns and will seek to address any problems should they arise.
