Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works, Santia Bradshaw has announced that major repairs to more than two dozen roads have been completed at a cost of 26 million dollars with more roads due for attention under the 100-million-dollar CAF road rehabilitation and infrastructure project.

The CAF Roads Program, funded by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, focuses on improving road connectivity and transportation networks throughout the island.

Delivering a progress report on the program during a news conference at the MTW headquarters at the Goddard Building in Haggatt Hall, Miss Bradshaw disclosed that major repairs of 26 roads have been completed, with another 11 roads earmarked for immediate attention under the Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) Project and an announcement will be made shortly on plans to rehabilitate a further five roads.

Speaking to journalists shortly before taking them a tour of some of the road repair sites, Minister Bradshaw said, “the intention is to identify the roads in the worst condition and have them go out to tender for repairs as government draws down on the remaining CAF Program Funds to ensure that over the next few years government makes the necessary improvements to the road infrastructure.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that her ministry is determined to respond to the public’s concerns about the state of roads adding, “we have taken on board not just what our depots have reported but also feedback from our engineers and external contractors as well comments from the public and the social media posts from influencers who from time to time raise concerns about the condition of the roads; all of that has been taken into consideration as we embark on a systemic upgrade of the road infrastructure which will continue over the next few years”.

Miss Bradshaw noted that this follows on from the Mill and Pave Project which started two years ago and under which more than seventy-five roads were completed.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, “several other roads in the urban as well as rural corridors that were on the radar were assessed and deemed to require more extensive attention including the installation of curbs, sidewalks and drainage”.

She noted that these included such roads as Yorkshire, Fustic Village and Rock Dundo and currently ongoing are the Prior Park, St. James, Shop Hill to Content, St. Thomas, and Jackson, St. Michael to Bridgefield, St. Thomas road rehabilitation projects.

Meantime, Project Management Consultant, Craig Archer, a Consultant with Stonesbridge Construction, the Project Managers for the CAF Program provided a further progress report stating that the Rock Dundo, St. Peter Road from Highway 2A to Highway One is substantially complete from with only minor “snagging” currently being done.

He added that Prior Park, St. James Road rehabilitation commenced in September 2024 at a cost of Bds $3.7 million and is nearing conclusion with completion expected by early September.  Mr. Archer pointed out that the time frame for completion increased after excavation of the site revealed the need for additional work to ensure a more durable base for the road, and this added approximately two months to the duration of the road works. He stated that in some cases they excavated down to more than six feet before finding rock.

He also stated that Shop Hill to Content, St. Thomas commenced in January 2025 at a cost of Bds $6.1 million and is being done in three (3) phases to minimize inconvenience to motorists and residents. The time frame for completion of Phase One of that project has also been unavoidably extended after excavation in the first half of Phase One – Fortress Hill to Dukes Hill – revealed even worse sub soil conditions than at Prior Park necessitating extensive measures to construct a durable base on which to lay the road.  The progress of work was further affected by delays in relocating utility poles and lines and the need to phase construction to ensure residents have access to their homes. This has extended the expected completion time by several months. The project is expected to be completed in another six months (early next year).  Key challenges include previously unknown subsoil conditions revealed by excavation where even after extensive excavation no rock could be found, in certain areas, within six feet of the surface.

He disclosed that Jackson to Bridgefield commenced in February at a cost of Bds $3.6 million. Commencement of the work was delayed because of the need to undertake remedial work on the Hangman Hill Bypass Road to provide an alternative thoroughfare including widening to accommodate buses. Further delays were occasioned by the need for additional work in relation to a Barbados Water Authority main that runs along the road. The project is now expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Mr. Archer added that several smaller roads are being repaired using roller compacted concrete (RCC) in St. Michael, St. Thomas, St. James and Christ Church but in some cases have also encountered delays related to the need to shift utility poles and water mains.(Stetson Babb -Communication Consultant/MTW)

Top Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works (MTW) Santia Bradshaw taking a look at works being carried out at Bridgefield, St. Thomas under the CAF Programme. (Photo by W. Murray/MTW)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works (MTW) Santia Bradshaw and MTW’s Permanent Secretary in discussion with Mark Atwell from contractor C.O Williams Construction Ltd, at Prior Park, St, James. (Photo by W. Murray/MTW)