Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 13, 2017 (SKNIS): The hazardous conditions on the Old Road Bay, which pose a danger to motorists because of sea swells, land erosion and rock slides during adverse weather are soon to be resolved, as EC$23 million was allocated in the 2018 Budget for rehabilitation of the Old Road Bay.
While appearing on the Government’s weekly programme, “Working for You” on December 13, the Honourable Ian “Patches” Liburd, Minister of Public Infrastructure, said that he is pleased that the Old Road Bay will be undergoing reconstruction in the coming years.
Minister Liburd said that the Old Road Bay is a critical link in the entire island road network and needs to be accessible for motorists. He explained that an assessment of the area was done to come up with various options to mitigate against the challenges faced with the road posing a danger to motorists and becoming impassable during adverse weather.
“The option that we have chosen will address both the land side and the sea side,” said Minister Liburd, while explaining that the reconstruction plan for the road will encompass raising the level of the road through reclaiming the land on the sea side.
He noted that a technical study done in September through November revealed that the land reclamation would be the most suitable option to address the reconfiguring of the Old Road Bay.
The minister said that the $23 million dollar project will be on the front burner of his ministry’s agenda.
“It is worth it. Not only commuters from the rural side are impacted but imagine someone from Old Road having to go right around the country side to come to town,” he added.
The Old Road Bay Project is expected to start in January of 2018 in order to petition bids for the design and construction of the road while the actual construction is estimated to begin in early 2019.
