Residents and road users in St. Joseph can soon expect relief as several roads in the parish have been prioritized for repair and reconstruction under the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) Scotland District Road Rehabilitation Programme.
They include Airy Hill, Bathsheba, Braggs Hill, Coconut Grove, Ermy Bourne Highway (Phase 2), Fruitful Hill, Gaggs Hill in St. Elizabeth, Mellows Hill, Spa Hill, Sugar Hill to Highway 3, Vaughns Road 1 & 3, and Laynes and Melvins Hill Bridges. The construction schedule and criteria are based on the connectivity of the road to the wider network, the severity of damage, house relocations, and the completion of designs.
The COMPLANT engineering team is currently working on designs for many of these roads. Ermy Bourne Highway is broken into two sections: the design for section one of the Ermy Bourne Highway is finished and the Barbados Light and Power Company (BL&P) is in the process of relocating 14 poles. The design for section two has started. Designs are also completed for Highway Z (Bathsheba); MTW has requested tenders for boundary surveys based on the design. Nineteen utility poles are to be relocated and the Barbados Water Authority will need to conduct replacement upgrades in the area before construction can commence.
Initial protective work such as gabion building has already started in some districts under the supervision of MTW managing engineering consultants, Stonebridge Construction. At Gaggs Hill, opposite the St. Elizabeth Primary School, gabion building is in progress. MTW has contracted a team to build gabions for a section of the failed retaining wall. Gabion building is expected to take another four to six weeks provided there are no unforeseen circumstances that would cause interruptions.
Heavy rains caused significant delays at Laynes Bridge last year as they impacted a pond that channeled water into the worksite; consequently, requiring that the pond be drained several times. However, culvert construction and gabion building are now well underway with 35% of the work done. Due to the connectivity of the roads in St. Joseph, it is essential to complete the work at Laynes Bridge before full reconstruction can begin at Braggs Hill and Airy Hill. Designs have been completed for Braggs Hill and a technical team is assessing the most suitable protective method to use, i.e. whether interlocking concrete blocks or gabions. Coordination with the BL&P has been initiated so that a utility pole can be removed from the site in order for the protective works to begin.
Over at Spa Hill, which is prone to frequent land slippage, a team from the Bath Depot temporarily resurfaced the road to improve access to residences and the main road; safety signs will also be erected. One householder has been relocated and several others are earmarked for relocation; this must be done before reconstruction can begin. The Ministry of Housing, Lands and Maintenance is responsible for the relocation process.
Vaughns Road No. 2 was completed in June 2024 by the China National Complete Plant Import & Export Corporation (COMPLANT) and its subcontractor C.O. Williams Construction. Kerbs and a retaining wall were constructed to improve road stability; in addition, street lights were installed for the first time. Designs will soon be started for Vaughns Road No. 1 and 3. MTW will continue to monitor and carry out maintenance within St. Joseph, and thanks residents, businesses, and road users for their patience and cooperation.