PM calls for patience while road repairs are done

An appeal has been made to motorists who use the Vigie Highway to be patient as rehabilitation work is carried out on that portion of road.{{more}}

At a press conference held at Cabinet Room, on Tuesday, September 8th, 2009, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves asked persons who use the bypass routes to have patience and understanding.

“How many times we have repaired the Vigie Highway? Not just this government, but the NDP Administration and before that the Labour Administration. Every time you repair it, after a few weeks or months, it breaks open again. So we say look, let us do this road properly, once and for all,” the Prime Minister explained.

The road will be constructed at a cost of approximately EC$2.3 million.

Dr. Gonsalves said the Government is hoping that the road will be completed by the end of September.

“The Chief Engineer, he is not so optimistic that it will happen by the end of September. It can happen if DIPCON works twenty-four seven. If they work every single hour, or at least most of the hours of the day and night,” said Gonsalves, adding that he is sure there may be some cost factor involved for working late beyond the regular hours.

Gonsalves said DIPCON Engineering had won the bid to reconstruct the road between Rabacca and Sandy Bay. However, the work on that portion of road “took a little longer time than it should have been.”

He said as a consequence of this and owing to some tardiness in the work of the European Union Office in Barbados, $1.9 million of money from the European Union (EU) was locked on that project.

Gonsalves said the government’s money was used to construct the Rabacca to Sandy Bay road. However, the EU instructed that the Government could use the funds originally intended for that road to complete another road within a specific time. They also stipulated that the Government would have to use the same company which it had agreed in advance would do the Windward Highway.

Hence, DIPCON Engineering is being used to carry out the work.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister announced that the Government has applied to Caribbean Development Bank for a loan to rehabilitate the Leeward Highway from the Hospital Road to Buccament. (HN)