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Temporary fix to problematic stretch of road @ Paraquita Bay

- Permanent solution will be tied to continuation of sewage project, says Hon Natalio D. Wheatley
Seventh District Representative and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley, left, has said a more permanent solution to the stretch or road at Paraquita Bay will be tied to the continuation of the East End Sewage Project, which government is committed to getting back on track. Photo: Facebook
On November 8, 2017 a truck transporting materials was nearly swallowed up by large pothole on that same stretch of road recently fixed by the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government. Photo: Team of Reporters/File
On November 8, 2017 a truck transporting materials was nearly swallowed up by large pothole on that same stretch of road recently fixed by the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government. Photo: Team of Reporters/File
Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5) has said safety of road users is a priority for his government. Photo: VINO/File
Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5) has said safety of road users is a priority for his government. Photo: VINO/File
PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, VI- Motorists frequenting the Paraquita Bay area are now experiencing a smoother journey through the community, thanks to a temporary fix to a stretch of road that is almost always riddled with potholes.

The works were carried out by Public Works Department and, according to Seventh District Representative and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley, “a more permanent solution will be tied to the continuation of the sewage project, which this Administration is committed to getting back on track, following the abandonment of the project prior to us taking office.”

Dr Wheatley expressed gratitude to Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5), and Public Works Department for rehabilitating the Paraquita Bay Road, “providing a smoother journey for those who work and reside in the east.”

That particular stretch of road, in the vicinity of ‘Bouncer Bar’ has made the news before. On November 8, 2017 a truck transporting materials was nearly swallowed up by a large pothole in that area.

'Safety of road users a priority'- Hon Rymer

Meanwhile, Hon Rymer, speaking during the Seventh Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) on October 17, 2019, declared that safety of road users is a priority for his government.

“…we are definitely working on it and anything dealing with roads and transportation and safety of our pedestrians or motorists, we take serious,” Hon Rymer had said.

26 Responses to “Temporary fix to problematic stretch of road @ Paraquita Bay”

  • tretretrete (08/11/2019, 07:57) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    Talking of Pariquita Bay. Kyle working. While the Agriculture minister just talking. What's going with agriculture.... .. Pariquitta is big. Allocate just one Acre for bread fruit. Avacado and coconut trees... These don't need much water and they will most definitely sell.. Branded local..
    • Eh? (08/11/2019, 13:55) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Did you mean to tell a story?This is no time for that. Avocado and breadfruit needs plenty plenty water to survive and this is the Gospel truth.
    • Kingfish (08/11/2019, 17:01) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ Hmmm: Residents who have land should be doing what you want the government to do, lets us get a program started to plant a few thousand fruit trees every year, there is no need for us to import breadfruit, avocado, mangoes etc.
  • hmm (08/11/2019, 08:33) Like (10) Dislike (7) Reply
    Is he the new patch&go minister like Mark was ??
    • Hush (08/11/2019, 12:22) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      The correct thing was done. Fix all the underground fixtures first then bring the brand new road. He’s common sense and the new action man in town. Remember too that the sewerage line under the road isn’t quite complete. Sit back and learn.
    • yeah (08/11/2019, 12:25) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
      Both are professor Pothole now.
  • Well Sah (08/11/2019, 08:38) Like (17) Dislike (3) Reply

    Just look at the foolishness that's being done in this 20th century....................Spreading asphalt with a bachoe

    • Correction (08/11/2019, 08:59) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
      21st century
    • @well sah (08/11/2019, 09:08) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
      Well if you could buy them a Paver so that they do not have to use a backhoe, so they wouldn't have to use a"bachoe"
      • wow (08/11/2019, 11:36) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
        What about those machines I saw displayed on the festival ground some time ago, that cost taxpayers over $1million? They gone with the $7 million dollar planes?
  • Hit the nail on the head (08/11/2019, 09:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now Dr. The Honourable N. Wheatley, now implement a temporary fix of stopping grey water flows into the street from 4 places into the Stickett area in Long Look....and fast.
  • McGuyver (08/11/2019, 09:37) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Always temporary fixes, duct tape, baling wire, anything but do it right.
  • ..... (08/11/2019, 09:48) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    This should not make the news. Take it down. Not a good sight. Thank you.
  • blue wave (08/11/2019, 10:32) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    IS THIS VIP PROGRESS?
  • For true (08/11/2019, 11:44) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    There three big problems with road works in the BVI. 1 No water run off. 2 pouring asphalt on loose dirt, no compacting of the road base. 3. No or inadequate compacting of the asphalt and expecting the cars to do it.
  • son of the soil (08/11/2019, 12:02) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    jump high jump low the VIP ah work
  • Road Engineer (08/11/2019, 12:31) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    In the VI, temporary often means permanent. Roads in the BVI suffer from premature deterioration due to poor design, construction and maintenance. For True is on point:”There three big problems with road works in the BVI. 1 No water run off. 2 pouring asphalt on loose dirt, no compacting of the road base. 3. No or inadequate compacting of the asphalt and expecting the cars to do it.” Poor drainage is a major contributing cause of premature road failure. Laying asphalt over a failed subgrade, base......etc is ineffective with a short life. Something is wrong with roads in the BVI; they always filled with pot hole. The throw and go methodology is not working.
    • cat outta the bag (08/11/2019, 13:51) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      It is the mud that is being used as road base from a particular quarry
      • Road Engineer (08/11/2019, 14:53) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        Asphalt road consist of several layers, ie, subgrade ( bottom layer), base and surface course. The subgrade is sometimes used depending on the type of road in its in-situ state. More often than not limestone is used to dry out the subgrade to stabilize it to support the other layers. The subgrade is proof roll to test for wet or soft spots that must be fix before laying the base. Subgrade stabilize, base, the middle layer, which consist of aggregate ( 3/4” rock) is laid and compacted( cannot use mud as a base). Then the surface course, the top layer that consist of asphalt is laid. The road should have a 2% cross slope from the crown to the side so that water can runoff and not pond on road and cause premature road failure. For the life of me, I cannot understand why this stretch of road is problematic, for it is a flat, straight stretch. It is less the people less ah wah! The picture of the truck almost being swallowed up in a pothole is an embarrassment to the MCW/MTUW, PWD and the territory.

  • cuban fan club (08/11/2019, 13:53) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thats the best sawonde could do for the 7th?
    • INTRESTING (09/11/2019, 09:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @cuban fan club, would you prefer to continue driving through pot holes? Obviously the roads can't be fixed until the over 20 year sewage problem has been addressed, And if you don't understand why let me explain, there are these things called pipes that will have to be placed underground to address the sewage problem in the district and if the roads are paved first you would then have to dig back up the road to lay said pipes at which point there will be the cry ohhhhh he wasting tax payers money, but i would love to know what you think should have been done in this situation because i live in the 7th district my whole life and it has been a lot of nothing going on in this district lets see what the new rep will do before you start to kick up he has only been there a few months.
  • E. Leonard (08/11/2019, 16:02) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    If telecommunications lines, and utility lines(water, wastewater, electricity, drainage, gas) are scheduled to be placed beneath the road in the short-term, it is a good decision to delay the permanent road construction work to avoid having to cut into a brand new road later. Cutting into a road weakens and shortens the road lifecycle; cutting should be avoided to the maximum extent practical.

    From afar, roads in the BVI seem to have two challenges, ie, alignment, and design/construction/maintenance. An asphalt road is like a layered cake consisting of the following layers: subgrade(bottom), subbase, base, and surface(top). A properly designed, constructed and maintained asphalt road with effective drainage(center line (crown)to edge of pavement; road side ditches) should last approx 10-15+ years with periodic preventative maintenance. Timely maintenance extends road life, reduces O&M cost, improves serviceability, reduces traffic congestion and probability of accidents, lowers replacement cost and reduces vehicle owners’ operating cost. The following is a typical preventative maintenance schedule for a 30-year lifecycle road. At the 7-year mark a seal coat is done (coat over existing surface coat), 15-year mark an overlay is done ( top coat is removed and replaced), 22-year mark another seal coat is done and at the 30-year mark a complete replacement is done. In between these schedules, crack sealing and other minor repairs, ie, potholes, skin patching.....etc are done as needed.
    • Road Life (09/11/2019, 12:33) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @E. Leonard, now you know that the BVI don’t build roads to last 30 years; we are lucky if we get 3-5 years. Because our roads have such a short life span, we are probably spending more than others building and rebuilding roads in short time spands.
  • *** (08/11/2019, 16:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bellevue paved too. Thank you and thank God.
  • Thankful (08/11/2019, 17:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank you very much
    Good job
    Made driving such easier
  • Eagle and Buffalo (09/11/2019, 08:44) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Driving on some BVI roads are painful for the long suffering motorists; our vehicles(tires, frontend, suspension system, trannies, ...etc) are feeling the pain, stress and strain. The Public Works Department (PWD) is a failed and under performing agency. Don’t know if it is under performing due to a)poor leadership and management, b)under resourcing, c) poorly trained and unproductive people, d) lack of experience, e)lack of accountability, and f)no consequences and don’t give a shit attitude. Whatever the reason(s), PWD has miserably failed. In any event, PWD needs to be restructured. Roads are important in moving people, goods and services; they are important for business, commerce, commuting, pleasure, transportation, and social interaction. Who is taking ownership for that truck that is being swallowed up by a massive pothole. It is not staged for effect, for VINO is the real deal. The whole nation must cover its face, lower its head and weep uncontrollably in shame. We must look in the mirror and ask why can’t we effectively design, construct and maintain approximately 70km of improved road. If we cannot properly maintained 70km, how can we maintain 100 km? If improved roads are getting this type of care, feeding and love, what about the unimproved? Let’s mourn for our home land. We can do more better.

    Let’s lead like eagles, not careen off the cliff like buffaloes.


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