Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 25, 2024 (SKNIS): Construction crews are working apace in St. Peter’s to construct a two-lane roundabout with four access points, as the St. Peter’s Main Road Rehabilitation – F. T. Williams East Project picks up pace.
The project will see the resurfacing of the 3.86-kilometer road from Ogees Ghaut in St. Peter’s to the Roundabout at Golden Rock. To date, the road stretching from the bridge on the FT.. Williams Highway, around the Shadwell roundabout and up to the security gate to the R. L. Bradshaw International Airport has been completely resurfaced. Sidewalks on both sides of the road above Bass Bakery down to Carifesta Village have been installed, while a new retaining wall stretches from the ATM in St. Peter’s to Carifesta Village. New and in some cases upgraded drainage systems have also been installed to ensure adequate water runoff.
Rock and Dirt Construction Limited is the primary contractor. The company’s owner Alexis Hazel, noted that there are three teams deployed at various points. One team is building a reinforced retaining wall on the Eastern side of the road, another is conducting the paving, while the third is working on constructing the roundabout in the area by the Anglican church. The roundabout will feature two lanes with four access points.
“This roundabout will be unique,” he stated, noting that the area has to be expanded significantly to accommodate two traffic lanes and four access points.
“I’m very excited by the progress,” said Hazel, noting that almost a mile of road has been resurfaced in a few days. “I’m happy to see how the project is going and I think we are going to finish this project in record time.”
Photo: Alexis Hazel (right) with George Gilbert
George Gilbert, Director of the Public Works Department, indicated that the pace of the project is very important and his department will be meeting weekly with Mr. Hazel and his team to accelerate the $31 million project now in its fourth month.
In the meantime, Mr. Gilbert reiterated advice for persons using the public roads under construction.
“We expect you to exercise caution while using the area. There will be inconveniences and I want to urge you … to leave home early so that you don’t lose any time,” he stated. “In addition to that, the roads are dry at this moment and you have a lot of dust flying. What we are encouraging the contractor to do is to keep wetting the area.”
Mr. Gilbert stated that a careful balance will determine the use of water on the project to ensure that persons with asthma and other conditions are not affected by the excessive dust.
Photo: A section of the newly paved road
Estimates are for most of the major works to be completed by the second quarter of 2025 barring any unforeseen weather-related setbacks or supply chain issues.