Not forgotten: Anegada to receive road repairs, more PWD staff

A section of public road on Anegada. (Photo by Esther Durand BVI News)

Anegada’s modest road network is set to receive a slice of $7 million that has been earmarked for the territory’s road infrastructure.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Anthony McMaster, told BVI News on Saturday that the ministry is also recruiting staff to get those works done.

He said, at present, there is only one employee of the Public Works Department on that island and soon, that number will increase to five.

“There is quite a bit to be done on Anegada … there are a lot of areas where the concrete has deteriorated so there are some potholes there, some overgrowth on the road, there are areas where we see debris still there from the hurricane,” McMaster explained.

Esau Ross, local Roads Officer stationed on Tortola, said areas on Anegada such as the Jack Bay road, sections of The Settlement, and the Bridge in the vicinity of the Flamingo lookout point have been determined as a priority.

“We want to make these roads comfortable,” he told BVI News.

In some areas, the road network is just graded limestone and when it rains, the lower areas are transformed into murky ponds.

McMaster said the ministry had started road repairs more than two years ago from the Setting Point Jetty to an area know as the Pinnacle point.

However, due to budgetary constraints, those works ended prematurely.

He said a team of engineers are now scheduled to visit and evaluate the areas of concern on Anegada this week.  After those evaluations, they will begin to create designs for road development.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Anthony McMaster.

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