CONSTRUCTION work on Village Road this week. Photo: Moise Amisial
By JADE RUSSELL
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
THE $6.4 million Village Road Improvement Project, originally expected to be completed in September, is now expected to be done in November, said Minister of Works and Utilities Alfred Sears.
During a tour of the project on Friday, Mr Sears spoke about the additional work to be done.
He said: “There are some additional works which are being scoped related to installing a roundabout in the front of Queen’s College and Bahamas National Trust. We will be meeting with both of those stakeholders to discuss further what is intended in order to make this roadway more efficient and also improve the quality of life.”
With schools set to reopen on Monday, concerns have been raised about how the road closures in the area will be a challenge.
Resident engineer Albrion Symonette, Jr, explained they will be diverting traffic to assist with the reopening of schools.
Mr Symonette Jr said: “So are we aware that the Queen’s College school reopens on Monday; what we have established is where our construction crews will come at that time.
“We are actually going to be diverting traffic through Brooklyn Avenue. So off of Village Road onto Brooklyn Avenue through the residential area around the Tuckaway Road.”
Additionally, the engineer also highlighted the construction of the roundabout would be beneficial to the efficiency of traffic flow.
Mr Symonette added: “So the placement of the roundabout would require us to do some demolition, some relocation of walls, some relocation of vegetation, and then once that is done, the roundabout would improve the efficiency flow of the Village Road and also improve safety for motorists and pedestrians alike.”
When asked about the details of the project he said it consisted of the installation of roughly about a mile worth of a BPL duct bank which is 16 pipes. The engineer noted there being an eight-inch water main along with improvements to several junctions, lane widening, and road paving in the project.
“We're also adding new smart traffic signals,” Mr Symonette said.
Mr Symonette noted that one of the primary challenges his team faced was a lot of underground utilities in the area. He explained damage caused to existing pipes did result in some delay in the process.
Additionally, when asked if there will be water drainage, Mr Symonette responded that they are improving the drainage system as well.
During the tour one reporter asked for an update on the Gladstone Road project. Mr Sears said consultations will commence shortly.
He noted the project would be similar to the work being done in Village Road as it would aid in improving the efficiency of that thoroughfare.
Mr Sears also thanked residents and business owners for their cooperation during the Village Road project. He emphasised that by November there will be a dramatically improved road, sidewalks, and more efficient infrastructure.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 1 year, 7 months ago
Was the roundabout in the original plan? when did the project go off course? Somewhere along the way something took longer than expectes, cost more than expected or uncovered some unforseen challenges. When did tgat happen, how much additional time and expense did it cost and why wasnt it reported when it happened?
I hope this roundabout wasnt an afterthought, because it would indicate pretty poor planning
themessenger 1 year, 7 months ago
In addition to the dust,mud when it rains, the narrow streets of the lovely old residential neighborhood of Tuckaway are to become the latest source of frustration and road rage for school parents and residents alike. Methinks Engineer Symonette and co didn’t give this a whole lot of thought, not that they have much choice in the matter at this point, they should have been out of this area long since. The best laid plans of mice and MOW ?????
Socrates 1 year, 7 months ago
another gov't debacle. sorry for the residents in that area and those attending QC. they'd better take an LOA from their jobs because school runs will take forever. i would have thought the failure of roundabouts as traffic control mechanisms on busy streets would have been obvious by now as they favour sides that have the least traffic approaching from the right and lane misuse and undisciplined driving makes them regular accident sites.. instead they build more..signals are the only way to assure all sides get equal access.
Sickened 1 year, 7 months ago
They will assign a police officer there every morning in order to manage the roundabout - just like at the north end of Gladstone road. CRAZY!
Flyingfish 1 year, 7 months ago
That's because to much people are driving on this small little island. There is no way to get anywhere quick and efficiently without driving.
KapunkleUp 1 year, 7 months ago
No surprise here but.... I bet as soon as it is done, BPL and/or W&S gonna dig up because they forgot to install something.
ThisIsOurs 1 year, 7 months ago
have you noticed how slowly but surely theyre turning prince charles into a bumpathon? its like its impossible to close an access point without creating either a crater or a speed bump.
LastManStanding 1 year, 7 months ago
Same thing on Abaco. I can count at least three trenches on my road that Water & Sewage have dug up yet neglected to fill in. It is disgusting and slowly destroying people's vehicles.
JokeyJack 1 year, 7 months ago
All of the complaining comments above are made by a tiny group of disgruntled misfits. The vast majority of Bahamians voted either PLP or FNM in the last election. Bahamians are contented cows, just like it says on the side of the cream can.
sheeprunner12 1 year, 7 months ago
When did this Village Road project begin?
What will it cost the public by November 2022???
Will the Govt reveal the project's contractors and the cost of each contract???
Why do all of these so-called intelligent people start every answer with "so"???? ....... It's annoying and stupid.
ThisIsOurs 1 year, 7 months ago
Started in 2nd week in July was to end in August. To hear that they need an additional 3 months to complete a 1 month project with no explanation other than a roundabout that nobody's heard wind of before is simply ludicrous. Is someone trying to make another 20 million off a lucrative project?
Starting sentences with "so" is just a bad linguistic habit not limited to smart people
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