Shocking! Penn suggests roadworks could cost $100M
Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn has expressed shock over what he estimated was the actual cost of the government’s proposed 38 miles of road construction project.
The proposed 38-mile road construction project sparked concern over its potential cost after Penn calculated that it could reach a staggering $100 million. The revelation came during a recent exchange in the House of Assembly between Penn and Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer.
During the sitting, Penn questioned the projected $30 million allocated for the labour portion of the roadworks, expressing shock that the materials, including asphalt and concrete, would require additional contracts and funding. “This project could potentially cost the people of the territory close to almost $100 million, with material and labour,” Penn said.
He added that the cost would likely surprise many residents who had originally anticipated lower figures. “I think… when this was initially thought out, it was sort of deceiving, because the perception was that we are getting 30-something miles of road for 30-something million dollars,” Penn argued.
He continued: “Essentially, this is going to cost the taxpayers of this country, this project in particular, close to almost $100 million. If you count the materials that we have to provide — the concrete, the steel, the asphalt has to be provided by the government. And I don’t think that is clear to the public.”
Minister Rymer acknowledged that the $30 million figure covers only labour costs, with the government responsible for providing materials. He defended the expense, arguing that the government was receiving value for money and emphasising that quality roads require significant investment.
“If we want to get good roads, I think we have to invest in whatever is necessary,” Rymer stated. Rymer confirmed that the government’s current roadworks involve a similar arrangement in which the government supplies materials.
The 38-mile project is part of a larger infrastructure improvement plan to address years of wear and tear exacerbated by natural disasters. However, questions remain about the project’s overall financial impact, especially given the government’s history with infrastructure projects and concerns over transparency in the bidding process.
The project was awarded to only one contractor, further fueling worries about accountability.
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It Will cost more than that, because what the doing is covering up… next year you need another 100M to fix this patch…. such a dumb move.
Too much half truths
when it is done they will have to repair it when the hurricane and floods wash it out again. To be honest I rather they take that 100 million and build a railroad or some shh that actually will work. $100 million on a road for a tiny island nation is crap. Better go back to donkey days.
If you are going to waste it better yet invest it, down the line split it up and give each 40,000 residents $2500 + investment.
I don’t quite understand the 8th District “Shock”.
First, we all know our roads are terrible and has been that way for a while. The hurricanes and bad weather has made them worse.
The good Rep should know first hand how bad the roads are because in his district alone which he frequently drives thru one can consider Exhibit A.
Ever since I was young, our roads have been poorly designed with little to no drainage and poor maintenance. The maintenance has always been done on the cheap with patch and go.
I liken the maintenance to patching an old car tire rather than buying a new tire.
The projected $30 million admittingly seems like a job to be done on the cheap for the roads to be fixed as described by the government, and like everything here in the BVI, I expect there will be overruns, but I don’t see $100 Mil as the good Rep is asserting.
What I find interesting here is this: The government has been criticized rightfully for our poor roads and lack of attention to their repair, and the minute the government finally begin to do something after dragging it’s feet for years, then we get this: Shock over some potential cost.
Well Mr. 8 District Rep. The road has to be fixed I am sure you will agree. Nothing is cheap. If there is an overrun relative to cost, then that has to be addressed, but don’t be a spoke in the wheel of getting these roads finally fixed.
IMO, this is a case of darn if you do and darn if you don’t. Let’s get on with it. Get the darn roads fixed and stop the political haranguing.
Well said , better to do it now and take the hit before the cost balloons $150 by next year.
You are agreeing to something you don’t understand. Fix the roads but do it the right way. Carry on
I am for the 100 million dollar repairs, as long as:
services, for work rendered, would be given to reputable companies; fraudulent activities, could be taken to courts, for refunds or,reenactment; and, competent geologists/engineers, are at hand to oversee, such a vast project!
We’ve been had, in the past!
Let us not have to live a lifetime of regrets, over another vast mistake!
I agree! But while we are at it lets think about the “services” (water, electricity & phone lines, etc.) that are buried underground….. Please, please, please put them in pipes underground with proper access to fix them when needed, instead of digging the whole darn road up!!!
Common sense would tell us the reason the number is so significant is because of the lack of investment to rectify legacy issues that we have had with the road for years. This investment is needed so that we are longer just applying Band-Aid fixes, but proper infrastructure works are conducted so the roads last longer also followed by the necessary maintenance.
I did not see proper prep work before the new asphalt was laid. Just saying that a good rain will show how well/poor the job was done.
I don’t get it… The Hon. Mr. Penn lives here too. In office back in 2011, the Hon. Mr. Penn of all people ought to recognise that under the government of his party, our roadways languished, much as they have continued to do under the lacklustre ministry of the Hon. Mr. Rymer…
2011!!! No wonder our roadways are in such a shambles.
Why on earth would the Hon. Mr. Penn be shocked? Maintaining the roadways is one of the costliest budget items for all local governments charged with that responsibility. But then, I guess since 2011, there have been no roadway maintenance budget items to sully the territory’s financial blueprint.
The process started, then IrMaria came so priorities were reshuffled, then came the wreck crew Government.
“The process started, then IrMaria … ”
Hardly.
Recall if you will how roadways managed to get themselves repaved just before an election? You’ve heard of Christmas miracles? We used to have Election miracles.
Four election cycles have managed to slip by without an Election miracle.
@Busy Bee:
I concur with your sentiments. Under the lack of Action Man absolutely nothing was done to improve MCW. PWD was dismantled infoavor of outsourcing all and sundry that PWD & WSD used to do as beforehand. If it were not for the 2017 IrMaria and the donations of equipment to both departments, they would not have any useful assets to date!
As those in the know would have surmised from the estimated costs (yet to see an designs) for the projected 30+ miles inclusive of sidewalks, road markings and drainage; the base materials is a separate cost that is yet to be revealed/quantified. This is because I have not seen any concrete designs for public consumption/evaluation.
I would hope that the utilities companies have been consulted and they have their ducks in a row so as when the works commence these can be installed in tandem before the overlays are completed. Somehow I highly doubt this consultation with those stakeholders has even started conversations. This is a recipe for disaster just like the Market Square et.al.
@Anonymous
Indeed. With the Minister for Works theoretically supervising it all, how difficult is it to order Cable & Wireless, Water and Sewerage to act in concert and raise their access points and manholes to comply with the new grade of roadbeds? In truth, probably too much for which to hope. Instead we’ll just have to put up with the man-made potholes.
Repairing the roads on Tortola is a waste of time and money. Let’s just go back to the 70’s days of the slow, difficult to drive 4WD Land Rovers on donkey trails.
Seemingly we’ve been had again and this begs the question “can government do anything without being had?” The ongoing project at Hodges Creek to Paraquita Bay is quite concerning as I question the wisdom of covering the farmlands at Paraquita Bay with the asphalt that is being removed from the road. Judging from past experience of flooding where my vehicle has been almost submerged in certain areas of the same road why wasn’t the existing surface left while drainage was concreted on the hill-ward side, sidewalk on the seaward side and a thick overlay applied to the surface thereby raising the level of the road to mitigate against flooding. The drains along the area seem to be clogged and should be cleaned and flushed to facilitate quick run off of storm water. It is my belief that we could have gotten better value for money by simply raising the road with out the expense of the surface removal and reconstruction at the same flood prone level. A casual inquiry was met with a Jamaican accent “gwaan ah yu yard” causing me to wonder if he too was eyeing a brand new porshe from easy BVI mumu money.
A few weeks back, before the $ 100 MM was a done deal, this site reported that govt awarded a $2.3MM road repair/rehab contract . It was for some 3,800 feet of road, which works out to about $3.2 MM per mile. If you have 38 miles of road, you need $ 121.6MM. Only now you notice….?
Hon Penn needs to go siddung. What was shocking is how * divert the sewage money and up to now East end stink. Close your mouth please.
And up to now Drexel cannot tell the public that $6M has been returned to the treasury. Sense tells us though that this is not Drexel for he does not get these confusion so stop using his name creating confusion.
Road construction is costly. The cost of the 38 mikes of road is a function of the level of work which is needed., viz, sealcoating, overlaying, or reconstruction. Reconstruction requires excavating the road down to the subgrade. Then the subgrade has to strengthen, stabilize, a new subbase if used is laid down, followed by a base and then the surface course. The cost of the 38 mile of flexible pavement also entails the design life. The longer the design life, the higher the cost. There was no local bidders on the Invitation For Bid ( IFB) which was recently issued and returned only one bid. This raises the question if there is the bidding and construction capacity locally. Road construction is different than other facilities construction, ie, buildings, other structures, etc.
Moreover, the goal/aim should be to keep the work local, spending local creates a multiplier effect in the economy. Every dollar spent local as much of it should stay local . $100M cost is plausible. Do it right the first time, maintaining it effectively.
If this is true 30 million for labour alone its a rip off this should be around a 1 million for labour we keep getting screw
Everything is shocking except for when. It comes to partying. Vybez Kartel like that
The 8th district is a RATCHET NEIGHBORHOOD. FIX DAT
As you point out, there were no local bids. Ergo, likely insufficient expertise in the Territory, so how could the work be done by locals? Nice thought though,
The roads need engineering properly with drainage et. Roads where water settles should not be flat but have a slight slant so the water can run off. Until this is done the Government would continuously waste tax-payers money.
Stop recovering holes and fix the roads properly mehn…..