Approximately $60 million of the $230 million allocated for the Scotland District Road Rehabilitation Project has been spent so far on reconstructing rural roads, with eight major projects done and sixteen additional projects currently in progress.
Acting Prime Minister & Minister of Transport and Works, Santia Bradshaw, disclosed this following a recent tour of several active road construction sites in the Scotland District. She was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW), the Barbados Water Authority, and representatives from the China National Complete Plant Import and Export Corporation (COMPLANT). Team members took to the road to see firsthand the execution of ongoing infrastructural work in place of their usual weekly in-office meeting.
“[We brought the entire technical team on the road with us…] so that we can, in a sense, work on the job and troubleshoot a number of issues… It’s a $230 million project. We have, up to the end of March [2025], spent about $60 million, and we have completed several projects under the Scotland District Project. Places like Shorey Village [and] Whitehill, St. Andrew, phase one and phase two, as well as Vaughns Road No. 2, St. Joseph, have been completed. We have completed Chance Hall, as well as Jemmotts Road in St. Lucy, and the Animal Flower Cave Road,” Minister Bradshaw outlined. Reece Road in St. Thomas and the Link Road in Four Hill/Prospect, St. Peter, have also been completed.
Minister Bradshaw further revealed that plans were in the works to start construction on some St. Peter roads. However, she stressed that coordination with the utility companies was required first.
“The works that are to be done in the Scotland District range across the rural parishes, and we have spent a lot of time preparing preliminary designs, as well as moving to the detailed design stage. At each of those stages, there is input from the utility companies to ensure that we are able to move light poles… and replace the water mains. That takes a lot of coordination between the utility companies, the contractors, and the design consultants to ensure that there is a smooth programme running across the Scotland District. …so, areas like Mount Brevitor, Sailor Gully, Orange Hill, Four Hill, Prospect Road, all of those areas have been designed, and we are now in a position to work with the utilities to coordinate the start date for each of those various sections of work. Let me just say that we will not start all of the sections in St. Peter at the same time,” she said, adding that Hope Road, Highway 1C in St. Lucy, had recently started. Plans are underway to address areas such as Crab Hill through another MTW programme.
As part of MTW’s focus on improving road infrastructure, the Minister also mentioned an initiative already underway to install solar lights along Highway 2A. While not part of the Scotland District Road Rehabilitation Project, she said, efforts are being made to acquire additional solar lights for rural communities where roads are also being improved.
Pointing out that enhancing road access and infrastructure benefits both Barbadians and the island’s tourism industry, Ms. Bradshaw explained that the Ministry had taken a dual approach to improving both residential roads and routes that provide access to tourist attractions and places of interest.
“Tourism is what pays our bills, whether we like it or not…. We focused a lot on the places of interest where the tour operators have agitated, as well. Animal Flower Cave Road was one of the first ones, and we are working on new roads in and around Cherry Tree Hill, the Morgan Lewis windmill, and in the area of Andromeda Gardens.” Work has already commenced on Phase 2 of the Ermy Bourne Highway, one of the most scenic routes and popular picnicking spots on the island.
Currently, 16 projects are ongoing under the Scotland District Road Rehabilitation Project. They are:
- Airy Hill, St. Joseph
- Babylon Road, St. Andrew
- Bruce Vale Bridge, St. Andrew
- Coggins Hill, St. Andrew
- Ermy Bourne Highway, St. Andrew
- Glenburnie, St. John.
- Highway B2, St Peter – St. Andrew
- Highway C, St. James
- Highway F – Phase 1, St. John
- Hope Road, Highway 1C, St. Lucy
- Kings Street, St. Andrew
- Laynes Bridge, St. Joseph
- Mose Bottom, St. Andrew
- St. Margaret’s, St. John
- St. Simons Road and Bridge
- White Hill, St. Andrew – Phase 3
The Scotland District Road Rehabilitation Project is funded by the Exim Bank of China. The project is executed by COMPLANT in association with Barbadian contractors, engineers.
During the tour, Minister Bradshaw chatted with several residents of the Scotland District. (Photo: S.Pilé/MTW)
Work is ongoing at Mose Bottom, St Andrew. Despite a slight delay, the Barbados Water Authority will continue main replacement in the upcoming week. (Photo: W.Murray/MTW)