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Massive Hodges Creek to Paraquita Bay roadworks currently underway

Some 3,813 linear feet of concrete roadway is under construction from Hodges Creek to Paraquita Bay as part of the Government’s plan to improve roads across the Virgin Islands. Photo: GIS/File
Subject Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5) said the Government is desirous of executing and completing road improvement works and remedying defects, “The Road Rehabilitation Project from Hodge’s Creek to Paraquita Bay is expected to last six months and we solicit the patience and caution of motorists and residents as we continue ‘Building a Better Road Network One Project at a Time,' he added. Photo: HoA/File
Subject Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5) said the Government is desirous of executing and completing road improvement works and remedying defects, “The Road Rehabilitation Project from Hodge’s Creek to Paraquita Bay is expected to last six months and we solicit the patience and caution of motorists and residents as we continue ‘Building a Better Road Network One Project at a Time,' he added. Photo: HoA/File
With the local asphalt plant now back in operation, the Government has embarked on a massive road rehabilitation project across the territory as promised by Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), who said the plant was a critical part of improving the road infrastructure in the VI. Photo: GIS/File
With the local asphalt plant now back in operation, the Government has embarked on a massive road rehabilitation project across the territory as promised by Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), who said the plant was a critical part of improving the road infrastructure in the VI. Photo: GIS/File
HODGES CREEK, Tortola, VI – Some 3,813 linear feet of concrete roadway is under construction from Hodges Creek to Paraquita Bay as part of the Government’s plan to improve roads across the Virgin Islands.

Subject Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5) said the Government is desirous of executing and completing road improvement works and remedying defects, “The Road Rehabilitation Project from Hodge’s Creek to Paraquita Bay is expected to last six months and we solicit the patience and caution of motorists and residents as we continue ‘Building a Better Road Network One Project at a Time,” he added.

Northam Construction which is currently undertaking the project was awarded the contract at the sum of Two Million Three Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand, Fifteen Dollars and Ninety-Nine Cents (US$2,386,015.99) over a timeline spanning 6 months. 

Large scope of work 

As part of the project, the scope of work will include providing all plant, Labour, equipment, and materials and performing all operations.

Further works include demolition and excavation works to remove the existing asphalt road layer, construction of manholes, interceptor drains, piping, and other drainage systems, construction of retaining wall structures, earthworks, compaction and installation of road base, construction of new reinforced concrete roadway and entrance pavement and facilitating works for all utilities and telecommunication companies and make good to all services. 

The Ministry added that Additional updates will be forthcoming as the works progress to completion.

More roadworks from Asphalt plant 

With the local asphalt plant now back in operation, the Government will continue its massive road rehabilitation project across the territory as promised by Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), who said the plant was a critical part of improving the road infrastructure in the VI.

Since early 2023, Hon Rymer said once the plant was operational, the government would commence carrying out a phased road program to address areas in need of repair and resurfacing.

16 Responses to “Massive Hodges Creek to Paraquita Bay roadworks currently underway”

  • Typo? (22/02/2024, 12:42) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    AM I reading that the asphalt plant is back running but this road will be built with reinforced concrete?
  • Eagle Eye (22/02/2024, 13:36) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thought it would be from east end to the college.
  • Hmm (22/02/2024, 14:36) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    But why is it that this stretch of road is the only one that's ever been repaired or work been done on.
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (22/02/2024, 14:48) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    "Massive road works, on the way, ...,you said?
    Hon. Minister, are the roads in the 8th, district in Long Look, at Fat Hog's Bay, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Sea Cow's Bay, and elsewhere also important? Only from Hodge's Creek to Paraquita's Bay need massive attention?

    According to Jesus Christ, "If the blind leads the blind, all will fall in the ditch."
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (22/02/2024, 15:05) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    According to the BVI political norns, the Premier should have prioritized road improvement in the 7th district first,
    What is the use of being in the seat of power, but lacking the knowledge of how to use it wisely, prioritized the priorities. Work your work, not talking your expected work.
    Talk is invisible, but work is visible.
  • question (22/02/2024, 15:07) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    Could the new road be laid on top of the existing surface and save cost of demolition and removal of existing road along with the preparation of a new road base. Would this allow for a longer stretch of road to be improved say to the concrete surface at Fat Hogs Bay. On the other hand why use concrete when it will be dug up regularly to fix the broken water pipes. A professional job from Brandywine Bay to Clarence Thomas is being ruined on a regular basis by leaking water pipes when the resurfacing job is a permanent bump, dip or just plain rough. Figure out a way to make revenue from DMV offset road maintenance and improvement cost. Seniors are burdened with the cost of an annual medical examination I am sure that the average person can also pay a little more especially taxi drivers who operate like the road belong to them.
    • Road Engineer (23/02/2024, 09:31) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      To Question, overlaying a failed and deteriorating road surface with fixing the base/subgrade is an ineffective road management, poor business practice and is just a band aid, throwing good money at bad. It is a poor investment with little if any return on investment. As GateKeeper noted the real and proper fix for a failed road segment is reconstruction. Roads are designed with a definite lifecycle, ie, 5, 20, 15, 20 etc years. And at the end of design life, the road has to be reconstructed. By the way, to get the designed life requires periodic proactive maintenance and repair. Many of you may have noticed when you travelled to developed countries, ie, USA, Canada, UK, etc, there is always some type of road work going on, ie, crack sealing, sealcoating, overlaying, pothole repair, construction/reconstruction, etc.
      • @Road Engineer (23/02/2024, 16:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        To Road Engineer, good points. However, the time roads last is at most two years or the make up of the first dark cloud or whatever comes first. BVI road network is poorly designed, constructed, maintained, too steep, etc. BVI roads should have lead development and population growth, social change, not lag; now it needs to get ahead of the curve but that will be a huge challenge. Most of roads follow the old pedestrian,,horse/mule/donkey paths. The modern, long term planning was/is lacking. The corporate knowledge on road management is severe lacking.
  • GateKeeper (22/02/2024, 16:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is the lifecycle of this road repair project? BVI roads have failed and as others have repeated over and over the proper fix for a failed road is reconstruction. Milling and replacing the asphalt surface course is maintenance, not construction. Overlaying a failed road is treating the symptom(s) , not the root cause of the problem—-failed road. It is akin to taking a Tylenol for a repeated headache; it will ease for a minute and return again and again unless the root cause of the head ache is found and addressed. The same applies to road work management, ie, failed road, with paving over the indicators, for the problem will resurface in short order/time. It will be throwing scarce good dollars $$$ at bad. A major caused of accelerated road deterioration is poor drainage. From personal observation, the roads in the BVI are as flat as a pancake with no crown or improper cross slope , resulting in ponding( seedling water) , hydroplaning etc., and major road deterioration, ie, causing vexing, annoying, hazardous road conditions, increasing vehicle owners operating cost, etc.

    Was a road pavement condition index (PCI) conducted/determined? PCI is a rating typically ranging from 0 to 100 indicating the severity and extent of distressed on a road surface. If the PCI indicates road failure, the normal recommended fix is full reconstruction, funding permitting, ie, milling the road the surface course down to rebuilding the subgrade, the subgrade, subbase, base, and surface course. Periodic maintenance and repair are needed to maintain the quality of, functionality, and to attain the design lifecycle, ie, crack sealing, seal coating and overlaying, quick repair to failed sections, etc.
    • Road Engineer (22/02/2024, 21:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @. Gatekeeper, you know your stuff on road management.. Concur that the proper fix for a failed road is reconstruction. Also agree on the crowning of road, poor slope, poor drainage, poor maintenance and repair as contributing causes to poor roads.
    • @GsteKeeper (23/02/2024, 09:41) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @GateKeeper, you are ambitious with great expectation and hopelessly hoping for better roads, for the BVI with approximately 70 lane miles of improved roads cannot even keep up potholes and you want it to do PCI, ie,,pavement condition inspection. That is truly ambitious mai boi. Hope you are not holding your breath.

      Moreover, in another blog under the Ellis Thomas Downs, you waxed about Less, and Lessness. Well, our road situation with potholes riddled surfaces are a live, apt example of Lessness.
  • Sure (22/02/2024, 17:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Six months they say, next year they will be saying the same thing! A bit like that mantra, "Two weeks to flatten the curve".
  • Massive (22/02/2024, 18:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is massive about paving less than a mile of road. Massive. Really.
  • Amaze (23/02/2024, 20:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hope the mi mister would be proactive and fix all these alternative roads that motorist will have to use now before this project begins. Don't wait and then we have accident every minute on these roads. These accidents can be fatal because of negligence you all please please please get proactive now you are fast asleep behind the territory wheel's. The territory don't need to hear condolences they need enjoy life to the fullest please do better for the people who elected you to work for them dont get bitter get better because we deserve better.
  • question (23/02/2024, 21:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thanks for the professional advice hope you guys are involved with the system in some shape or form this is the type of expertise we obviously need thanks again.
  • WEW (25/02/2024, 13:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    "Massive" ? It's only 3100 feet, not even a mile


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