All islands will benefit from the funding allocated to the rehabilitation and upgrade to the road infrastructure network in the Territory.

Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Dr. Natalio Wheatley made the announcement during the September 30th broadcast of the Virgin Islands Voice (VI Voice). The programme informs the Virgin Islands public on initiatives and programmes being undertaken by the government and how they benefit the Territory. 

Premier Wheatley said the investment in roads will strengthen measures aimed at improving the quality of roads across the Territory as well as build resilience with the improvement of utilities improvement being done in addition to road works.

Premier Wheatley commended the Minister of Communications and Works Honourable Kye Rymer for the work that has been done under his tenure. The Premier said, “We have had a strategy that the main roads that take you from east to west are solid roads. I saw the benefit on the eastern end of the island. Now if you drive from Beef Island straight to Road Town, you’re driving on a smooth road.”

Honourable Rymer stated that the decision was made to implement comprehensive road works across the Territory inclusive of remedial works like drainage and revetment rather than simply resurfacing the road that have been done in years prior. Minister Rymer said, “We are doing roadworks on Anegada. Cabinet has just approved a contract to do Lee Road on Virgin Gorda and we have done some other remedial works there, we have a design to do a road on Jost Van Dyke, and quite a lot of road works on Tortola. For all of those roads, we are upgrading the water infrastructure as well.”

The pivot from thirty-eight (38) miles of road resurfacing was changed for a more comprehensive framework of nine (9) miles across the Territory, which spans every major island. This top priority project for the Ministry of Communications and Works is intended to support improvements to roads on all islands, enhancing transportation, public safety and connectivity for residents, businesses and visitors.

The road improvement programme thus far has seen resurfacing, drainage improvements, road widening, retaining walls, subbase repairs and the overall rehabilitation of damaged roads across the Territory with work underway and upcoming.

The Government said the investment will ensure that communities across the Territory benefit from improved road infrastructure rather than limiting works to a single island. Works are expected to be implemented in phases, with project locations and timelines, as well as projected traffic disruption notices to the public.

Residents are urged to exercise caution around active construction sites and to follow traffic-management instructions when roadworks are underway.

The Ministry of Communications and Works will continue to provide updates through official communication channels regarding project schedules, road closures and temporary traffic arrangements.

The September 30th broadcast of the VI Voice can be viewed on the Government of the Virgin Islands’ Facebook and Youtube pages at BVIGovernment and Government of the Virgin Islands.

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The Ministry of Communications and Works is dedicated to ensuring the continued development and maintenance of public infrastructure in keeping with international standards so that public utilities are reliable and affordable in support of an enhanced community life for every resident and visitor in the Virgin Islands.