The Tribune

By Timothy S Roberts

Abaco’s residents continue to be frustrated with the poor condition of the roads in Central Abaco despite the start of long awaited asphalt paving which began at the end of August.

Residents have remarked that pothole littered roads are “frustrating”, “disgraceful” and “a sad situation” as they have to weave and dodge potholes on the busy thoroughfare in Marsh Harbour.

Persons in many instances are seen driving on the wrong side of the road or on sidewalks to avoid the worst sections of road.

This is an ongoing issue, though Simmons Construction and Heavy Equipment Company Ltd was initially awarded a contract for $1.3million, which included resurfacing and repairs to portions of roads in Murphy Town, Dundas Town and Marsh Harbour.

It is unknown if they completed that contract and they have since been given the task to pave the roads with asphalt.

Despite Philip Brave Davis, Minister of Works and Urban Renewal, saying in June that repairs to the roads in Central Abaco were deemed “satisfactory” by his engineers, residents have complained of shoddy workmanship that cannot stand up to a little rain and traffic.

Coupled with a reportedly insufficient amount cold patch being sent and lack of adequate equipment at the local Ministry of Works, the roads have continued to deteriorate.

Outspoken resident Patrick Bethel said the roads “are in worse condition than they have ever been”.

He added that he is concerned because it seems no one cares.

“It doesn’t seem as though local government, nor Ministry of Works cares and we see no concern from either of Abaco’s MP’s nor the ordinary citizens,” he said.

He said that the conditions of Abaco’s roads are “a disgrace and a danger” especially on the highways where drivers speed.

“I know of a vehicle that turned over due to a pothole on the Ernest Dean Highway near the farm and another friend damaged his front end and cracked his windshield in another pothole,” said Mr Bethel.

On a personal note, he added that he had just received a bill for more than $500 to repair his muffler which was damaged due to the inordinate number of potholes in the main roads of Marsh Harbour, Dundas and Murphy Town. “I will be sending my bill for the repairs to the Ministry of Works,” he said.

He estimates that collectively, the problem costs Abaconians anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 in fuel a week as more gasoline and diesel is burned when vehicles have to constantly slow down for potholes.

A local mechanic confirmed that he is seeing many more cars come in for repairs due to damage to struts, tie rods, ball joints, sway bars, lower control arms and CV joints as potholes accelerate damage to the front ends of vehicles.

Abaconians have become pessimistic as they continue to wait for satisfactory results on road paving and repairs.