Finally! Hodges Creek to Paraquita Bay road to be repaired

Residents of the Seventh District are breathing a sigh of relief amid the signing of a contract for the rehabilitation of the roadway from Hodges Creek Marina to Paraquita Bay.

The contract – valued at $2,386,015.99 – was awarded to Northam Construction Ltd and is expected to be completed in six months.

The public has been calling for repairs to the important roadway from Hodges Creek to Paraquita Bay as it connects several communities and is also vital to the territory’s tourism product.

In signing the contract, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley highlighted the importance of the thoroughfare, noting that “it is a wonderful day for the people of the Virgin islands” as many people use that road to get to the airport, Trellis Bay, to get to the sister islands, and to get to Long Bay.

Works Minister Kye Rymer outlined the extent of the roadworks, noting the new roadway will be fully modernised with a consideration for the territory’s utility networks as we new culverts, curve walls, slipper drains, box drains and short retaining walls.

“Northam will also be responsible for constructing over 1,500 linear feet of sidewalk. Also included in the contract is for the contractor to facilitate the installation of new water pipes along the route. Further, they will be facilitating the installation of electrical conduits along the route for BVIEC to continue the placement of their main transition lines below ground to provide resiliency during natural disasters,” Rymer explained. He added that the telecommunications companies have also agreed to upgrade their transmission lines along the route.

Rymer appealed for the patience of residents when work gets underway to upgrade the important roadway.

In the meantime Premier Wheatley said once the Hodges Creek to Paraquita Bay road is completed, his government will rehabilitate the stretch from Hodges Creek to Fat Hog’s Bay. Thereafter, the leader said roads in the Eighth district will be improved.

“As the budget speech is coming up, you will hear more about our plans to borrow so that we can provide the public with the roads that they deserve. Considering that I am not only the Premier and Minister for Finance, but the Representative for the Seventh District, I am doubly pleased that the people of this district who have had to cope with dilapidated roads and potholes will soon see some level of relief, and I have great confidence that Northam Construction Ltd will be able to deliver the type of quality of roads that our people deserve,” Premier Wheatley stated.