Sea Cows Bay road paving set for Friday
Residents and businesses in Sea Cows Bay are expected to receive relief from months of dust and traffic disruptions this week when asphalt paving begins on a section of the main road, according to Works Minister Kye Rymer.
The Ministry of Communications and Works said paving is scheduled to commence this Friday, July 10, with work beginning near the Anglican Church before progressing westward. The first phase is intended to address uneven road surfaces, excessive dust and difficult driving conditions that have affected motorists and nearby businesses during the ongoing reconstruction project.
“We understand the considerable inconvenience that residents, businesses, and motorists have experienced throughout this phase of the project, particularly due to dust and traffic disruptions,” Rymer stated.
The minister said road users should begin seeing improvements once the first asphalt layer is laid.
“While some construction-related challenges will remain as work progresses, we are delivering on our commitment to provide meaningful relief. Beginning July 10, we will lay the first asphalt layer to stabilise the roadway and significantly reduce the dust that has affected daily life and travel in the area,” Rymer said.
According to the ministry, contractors will use a two-layer paving approach designed to produce a long-lasting roadway. The initial three-inch asphalt base course will stabilise the road surface and reduce dust while crews continue installing sidewalks, curbs and drainage infrastructure. A two-inch final wearing course will be applied after those works are completed to achieve the finished road standard.
“Our objective is not simply to provide a temporary solution, but to deliver a modern, resilient road network that will benefit residents for decades to come,” Rymer explained. “Achieving that goal requires us to address critical elements such as drainage, road foundations, and other supporting infrastructure alongside the paving works.”
Rymer expressed appreciation for the public’s patience and cooperation as the Ministry balanced the need for timely delivery with its commitment to quality and long-term value.
Motorists have been advised that the first asphalt layer will not immediately reach the final curb height or the full roadway width in some sections, as civil works will continue alongside the paving operation.
The Sea Cows Bay road project has drawn sustained public attention over the past year due to prolonged construction, dust, traffic congestion, and concerns raised by residents and business owners. Government officials have repeatedly stated that the project includes significant underground drainage improvements intended to reduce flooding in the area, in addition to rebuilding the road surface.
The ministry said the start of asphalt paving marks the next stage of the overall road improvement project while construction continues on the remaining infrastructure works.
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What is wrong with turning on the water every other day. Not everybody can make it to the well. The well does not just serve the prople in the district. The place is dry…turn on the water! Ayo ridiculous man!
They are repairing the reservoir and replacing the main lines
repairing what??? For the last 10 years???? water has been from 5:30 am to 8:00am . Heck man!!!!!!!!!
Thank you hon Fraser
Hon. Liberator back in for another 4 and as Deputy at that.SCB large oui
My God – I have never heard such $hit coming out of the Ministry, and that is saying something!
Where was you worry and concern for businesses when you killed all the businesses in East End with your 2-year paving project in Paraquita? The most retarded job I have seen in a while, and that takes some skill here! Still, you have GIANT drop offs on each side of the road which are VERY dangerous! Cars can easily flip over and cause fatalities, along with NO F’ING DRAINAGE PLAN whatsoever! Clearly no thought went into the existing roads to housing on either side either.
SECOND – NO COUNTRY ON THE PLANET (other than the BVI) asphalts on top of concrete based on the temperature change, rainfall, the lack of adhesion, and a myriad of other reasons! Some highways in the USA do it for sound control, but they are very specific blends of asphalt designed to adhere to concrete in all weathers. Here, you pave Joe’s Hill time and time again and the asphalt ripples like an accordion and slides down the hill. Look at the road going up from Fish Bay, you go to top corner, and your wheels can’t even grip anymore.
HOW ARE WE INUNDATED WITH SUCH IGNORANCE AND STUPIDITY? VEXED BEYOND BELIEF!
People – WE MUST NO ACCEPT THIS ANYMORE! These idiots are breaking the place. We spend millions on road repairs that will need to be re-done again in a matter of a few years, maybe sooner!
While everything you say makes sense, you may have forgotten the part that asphalt has to be hot when it’s put down. You can’t bring asphalt from wherever it’s coming from to a project and by the time it gets there it’s cooling. Then they lay all the asphalt they bring. By the time that’s done it’s cold. I don’t care what you roll over it, it won’t stick. First little rain and it will be same as it was before we all suffered through the hell of road construction in our fair island.
Why not hire a proper management team from the beginning so that the work could flow like a typical real construction job should? Every day it’s a new dug up area as if they are working out their head and not an actual plan. Why are you putting down temporary asphalt? If the project was planned properly the necessary drainage, curbs etc would be put in then you pave ONCE! Why dig up 5 miles when you weren’t even ready to work on 1 mile?
Hubris
The sidewalks that are projecting into what should be the roadway can just about accommodates two cars side by side one going west the other east. Can two garbage trucks pass each other? How about emergency vehicles how will these be able to get through the traffic for emergencies especially with these high sidewalks no car can pull off the road to give way to the emergency vehicles. The drainage at the Bakery where will that empties. Most of what little drainage there was before is now occupied by sidewalk or dirt.
So we are placing asphalt over dirt. Why are they not laying concrete and then asphalt. I honestly thought the road works would have be done in stages.