by Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): The main contractor for the $31.8 million road rehabilitation project in the Old Road area, Surrey Paving is expected to begin paving in two weeks time.
“They are preparing to start the asphalting as soon as possible. They are very close to the final trial mix and then after that, they will start the asphalting…. they will actually… open the old road again, clear it, and then the traffic will go back on the old road, and then the contractor will have the new road to pave. When he completes the paving, he will continue with the rock work still and then when that is completed … we will have guard rails going up on… the seaside of the road, and then we will have lighting on it too… we have already [pulled] the ducks in place… The contractor has to put the plinth in place and then SKELEC will mount the lighting and pull the wires through… provisions [are being made] for all of that… The cable already [laid] their fiber optics… First, we have to reclaim land from the sea… we actually have to move material… paying for fuel and transportation and all of that concrete there; guard rails; the underground cables for the SKELEC lighting…”
Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department Mr. George Gilbert.
Mr. Gilbert also gave an update on the general road repairs underway, island-wide.
He told WINN that the recent laying and repairs to pipelines by the Water Department and the laying of fibre optic cables, by The Cable St Kitts, were completed last week.
“Starting this week, Surrey Paving the main contractors will be coming through and actually repairing all those holes in the road. Then in the next two weeks, they will actually be removing the top surface and they will start the paving process, then they will move on to Sandy Point. [The] Water Department has completed their activities in Sandy Point in the laying of new [pipelines] and The Cable is currently in Sandy Point laying their duct for the fiber optic cable. So, Surrey Paving will come through there when they finish the Old Road section up to New Guinea, they will go into Sandy Point… then they have some small areas to complete… Best Buy in Buckleys, Factory Line Gate… Pogson, Parson Ground and some patching to do here and there,” Gilbert explained.
According to Gilbert the Island Main Road project has cost EC$101 million, inclusive of sidewalks and drains throughout the island, the main road, and the wash ghaut in Cayon and there is still more work to be done.
Asked about the expected date of completion of the entire project, Mr. Gilbert said he was unable to provide a date at this time.
