Officials from the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) met with residents of Hope Hill Community last evening as the agency prepares to execute road rehabilitation and slope stabilisation in the area.
Approximately 40 residents from the nearby community gathered to listen to plans which outlined the scope of works to be achieved at a public meeting, held on October 8 at the Catchment, Hope Hill.
Director of Programme Strategy at the RDA, Neil Smith led the presentation and said it is a Ministry of Transportation, Works and Utilities project being implemented by the Recovery and Development Agency.
He shared how Government and the RDA works collaboratively to execute recovery projects. Mr. Smith said the purpose of the meeting is to appraise the community, including residents and landowners of the expected works as it will interrupt their daily lives.
Mr. Smith said the road will be closed tomorrow Saturday, October 11 and is encouraging the motoring public to use alternate routes as much as possible and avoid commuting in the area over the next eight months.
He also highlighted the project results stating, “An immediate result on the completion of this project is a better road in the community. As a consequence of the project itself, you will find that the contractors are more skilled than before.”
Minister for Transportation, Work and Utilities Honourable Kye Rymer also shared his vision for first-class roads in the Territory.
He said, “The vision for the road network throughout the Territory is to have first class roads. Within the Ministry of Transportation, Works and Utilities, we are working to see that come to fruition. We are working in tandem with the RDA and we are proud to see some of the projects being started.”
Honourable Rymer added, “We are about to start one of the major projects on the eastern end of the island where we saw the barricades for the last couple of years. I am excited to see this road work start.”
Longtime community resident Mrs. Esther Hetherington-Blyden was one of many residents who shared her thoughts on the meeting.
“The meeting went very well. We, the residents, know what is happening around the area,’ she shared, adding, “I want to see the area fixed so it is comfortable, and the roads are smooth and persons travelling from East to West won’t have any problems with it.”
Eight District Representative Honourable Marlon Penn expressed that he was happy to see a major road artery being restored in his district.
“This is a road that has been destroyed since hurricanes Irma and Maria. It is an important project, not just for the people of Hope Hill but for the people that traverse back and forth on this road on a regular basis,” Honourable Penn stated. He added, “It is going to bring a level of safety because we know that there are some barricades and some uncertainty in terms of the level of danger that exists with these roads. It will bring some relief to the community.”
Quality Construction was awarded the contract on September 17 to execute Road Rehabilitation and Slope Stabilization Works for Hope Hill to Sabbath Hill project, valued at 744,495.57.
The scope of works for this project includes the construction of four reinforced concrete retaining walls, construction of reinforced concrete kerb walls and slipper drains, the construction of box drains, the installation of guard rails and the placement, compacting and alignment of the road carriageway.
The project is funded by the Government of the Virgin Islands through the Caribbean Development Bank, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan.
The Recovery and Development Agency, a statutory body under the Premier’s Office was created by the Government of the Virgin Islands in 2018, to deliver Government’s Recovery to Development Plan.