FULL DEPTH ROAD RECONSTRUCTION TO COMMENCE ON FISH BAY ROAD TRAFFIC DISRUPTION & ROAD CLOSURES EXPECTED

The full depth road reconstruction on the Fish Bay Road is scheduled to commence on Monday, 16 May, 2022 and traffic disruption is expected.

Beginning Monday, excavation works for the first 130m or 426.4 feet of the Fish Bay Road Rehabilitation Project starting at the Sol Entrance and heading in an eastward direction will commence. A total of 480m or 1,574.4 feet of road will be rehabilitated for this project.

Project Manager with the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) Mr. RDA Sergio Dantas said, “The full depth road rehabilitation will demolish and remove the existing road pavement and replace it with a reinforced concrete pavement overlayed with asphaltic concrete. The traffic design for this pavement is based on a design year of 30 years.”

Pipeline upgrades on behalf of the Water and Sewerage Department has been included in the scope of this project. Motorists heading towards and from the East End area are expected to be impacted by the demolition works during their commute.

On Friday, 20th May from 7:00 a.m. until Monday, 23rd May, 2022 at 7:30 a.m., a portion of Backburn Highway in the vicinity of the entrance to Sol (BVI) Headquarters, Fish Bay will be temporarily closed to facilitate the demolition, preparation and casting of concrete to the road surface.

East and west bound traffic will be rerouted through the Skelton Bay lot area as required. Motorists are encouraged to follow the safety signs and traffic personnel on site.

The full depth road reconstruction follows months of active works to reconstruct and install full drainage works on both sides of the road which are now 75% complete.

New box drains, curb and slipper drains in addition to sidewalks were installed as part of the drainage and roadworks components of this project.

A larger culvert, which has 10 times the capacity than the original culvert coupled with the enhanced drainage network and the full depth road reconstruction is anticipated to deal with increased water that may enter the area over the next 30 years.

This will reduce the incidence of severe flooding and preserving the new road surface. The Fish Bay Road Rehabilitation Project is expected to mitigate against flooding in the area, provide better drainage and a better road surface. This project is now scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2022 and is being executed by the RDA on behalf of the Ministry of Communications and Works.

The Recovery and Development Agency is responsible for implementing the Government of the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Plan within well-defined systems of transparency and accountability and in keeping with international standards.