“Article first appeared in Barbados Today.”

Article by
Marlon MaddenPublished on
June 12, 2021

Officials are reporting smooth progress in the $14 million Constitution River upgrade project and have assured that not only will it be completed on time and within budget, but the biggest beneficiaries will be residents.

The project, which is scheduled to be completed by mid-March 2022, was commissioned by Government through the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment and is being executed by the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. (BTI). C.O Williams Construction is carrying out the development.

When it is completed, it is hoped small boats will be able to sail along the careenage and dock as far as a section at the northern end between Halls Road and Queen’s Park.

Minister of Economic Affairs and Investment Marsha Caddle toured the area on Friday to get a first-hand view of the work being done in Phase III of the project, which includes dredging and cleaning of the section of the canal that runs from Constitution Road to the James A. Tudor Roundabout in Halls Road.

She told reporters that the upgrade formed part of a wider urban renewal and regeneration project that is aimed at improving infrastructure while focusing on solving the problems of people who live in the vicinity and have to use the area.

Giving the assurance that the work was being done in the most environmentally friendly way, Caddle said she hoped that in addition to helping to address issues relating to flooding in and around the Halls Road area, it would also address issues relating to stagnant water that could become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

“So, one of the other things they are able to do is to address the sewage issue and flow of sewage in Ellis Road and around here; to have it more efficiently go to the plant that it needs to go,” she said, adding that a mechanism has been put in place to stop debris from flowing along the canal.

Indicating that Government was in the process of scheduling meetings with residents to find out more about how to ensure they can benefit from developments in the vicinity, Minister Caddle said it was “not possible to come and do these works and leave the community in the same way we found them”.

“So, while we work on the landscaping and kiosks for people who want to trade in the area, we have to make sure we work on making sure that people are living in ways that they want to live,” she said.

Once the project is done, entrepreneurs will be able to ply their trade in kiosks along a section of the area that is to be known as the Halls Road Commercial Village, which will be done through the Ministry of Youth as part of the Building Blocks project.

“I am pleased with how the work is progressing, but I am going to be more pleased when we get to the end . . . . I think we are looking good so far,” said Caddle.

She said efforts were ongoing to ensure that dumping in the area comes to an end.

Project Manager at C.O Williams, Steven Miller said since the “No Dumping” sign was erected along a section of Ellis Road, adjacent to the Constitution River, there has been a dramatic reduction in garbage being placed there and he expected the practice of dumping to become a thing of the past as work progresses.

He said the major work on the bridge has already been completed and they were now moving north, building a number of culverts into the embankment of the canal.

“There is also the boat dock on the edge of Queen’s Park which is in the process of being built. At the very end of the project at the [James A] Tudor Roundabout there is going to be a new transition flow, which means the water flowing from the old level of the river will come into the deeper level,” Miller explained.

He also pointed out that some new wetland areas were being built into two sections of the approximately 400-metre canal embankment.

“The other main part of the work at this end is a new sewage lift station that will help the flow of sewage from Ellis Road and from the easterly direction to cross over the river to the west,” said Miller, as he gave an overview of work being done.

He pointed out that while there have been some “small delays in specific areas” over the past few months, the project will be completed on time. This phase of the project started in September last year.

Phases I and II of the Constitution River upgrade project included work from Fairchild Street to the bridge along Constitution Road. (MM)