Significant infrastructural improvements ahead
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has promised to improve the territory’s infrastructure significantly in the coming months, disclosing that his government intends to spend millions of dollars on planned roadworks and other infrastructure projects.
“Our people deserve good infrastructure. There is simply no argument about that. The reality is that much of our infrastructure is aged,” the Premier stated during his budget speech. “So, we have come to the point where the infrastructure cannot hold anymore and are calling for urgent work.”
Premier Wheatley pointed out that the BVI’s infrastructure endured significant damage during the 2017 hurricanes and noted that infrastructural improvements is most critical and has to be approached with the highest priority.
Dr Wheatley said that for 2024, some $2.6 million has been allocated under the development budget for road improvements. He further noted that the government’s road improvement programme includes the upgrade and rehabilitation of 38 miles of primary roads throughout Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke.
According to the Premier, a tender is currently out for a comprehensive reconstruction of the road network, which he said will be completed within a two-year period, and this is expected to be financed through loan funding.
The programme will see the construction of new curb and slipper drains and short retaining walls to ensure the roads are secured, the Premier disclosed.
He also promised that there would be a comprehensive overhaul of the roads that would include provisions for rebuilding the road base, drainage, and road markings.
Meanwhile, the Premier shared that a comprehensive asphalt patching programme will be advanced throughout the nine districts on the secondary and tertiary roads to provide a substantial upgrade to the existing road surfaces.
He added that the benefits of this programme will provide a safe road network for the motoring public and achieve a smooth and comfortable ride for motorists.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Looking forward to seeing “significant” improvements.
Of course, any work performed is better than the zero amount we see every day.
Asphalt patching does not constitute “significant infrastructural improvement”. It’s like slapping gooey stuff on your roof and calling it good. Sometimes you need a new roof. Which means you need to budget and save, not fritter away your money.
2.6 million is not even one mile of road given what they pay now. #backkicks
@LOL
Correct, a properly constructed concrete road is a minimum of $1 million dollars and that is inclusive of subbase construction, sidewalks, curbs n gutters, drainage, road markings ect ect.
Govt has no clue about reality in this life, they need to come back home from the fantasy world they living.
This man bragging about $3million In roadworks? Seriously? If a Wall alone costed $900k then what is a measley $3m going to do? The average road costs about $350 per foot to engineer, draw and construct! So do the math! How many feet of road can Showande fix in 2024 based on his less than $3m road budget? That is about 8,000 feet of road or less than 2 miles of road. Who is this man trying to fool? You must stop it (in my head coach voice)! We are not dummies!
We have pot holes turning 4 years old and old enough to start school. Oh no scools to go to either.
for infrastructure improvements this season. He should have commenced these improvements back in MAY but instead choose to fly around the globe for 6 months.
Nothing will improve this year and probably next year as well
would it have been possible to use this 2.6 million for government to hire its own road engineers? $68.4K/mile is a very optimistic promise. Are we saying that we can have all the 124 miles of roads rehabilitated for $8.5 million in a country where it costs a million dollar for a wall or an elevator or AC units?
Wow, 2.6million. That’s not much. But thank you for the new doors at RT Customs.
UK help ! Dissolve HOA and take over.
Mr. Premier what is the funding for Health Services so visitors and residents alike can have access to quality health care. You elitists with money don’t go to Peebles. Have you visited lately to see the inefficiency because of the lack of equipment and ordinary every day hospital supplies? You people who make up this government have your heads up your a**es. The very important things are put on the back burner and the frivolous things that bring immediate financial gains are put up front, right and center. I hope we the people wake up and next election if the candidates contesting the election don’t campaign on Education, Health Care and the Environment: Let us the people Boycot the Election.
To miss out on the chance to remove this government? No we will not boycott our future. Go sit down.
I see lots of locals cutting bush on the side of the road. How does this fit into all this money?
Nobody asks any questions after these big amounts of money get voted on.
It just ends up in a COI and people don’t ever get held accountable. Great example is Farmer Fisher giveaways. Lots of people got money, and the details were very messy and probably corruption.