NASSAU, The Bahamas – More than 50 roads including community roads and main roadways are a part of an “aggressive” road paving program that The Ministry of Works and Utilities has planned for 2023 and 2024.

Francis Clarke, senior engineer, said “The attention we are putting on the ageing infrastructure is a temporary fix until the Ministry of Works can put a permanent fix on it. We’re just compiling the information. Inspectors are doing a report on each road,” said Mr. Clarke.

Road conditions in New Providence and the family islands, water issues in Eleuthera and fuel increase by BPL were addressed at a press conference today at the Ministry of Works and Utilities, JFK. The Hon. Alfred Sears, Minister of Works and Utilities, gave a statement and technical officers of the ministry and public corporations provided information and answered questions regarding these matters.

Among those present were Bacchus Rolle, parliamentary secretary; Luther Smith, permanent secretary; George Hutcheson, director;  Damian Francis, deputy director; Dr. Lisa Fitzcharles, first assistant secretary; Pedro Rolle, executive chairman, BPL and Shevonn Cambridge, CEO, BPL; Francis Clark, David Cox, Dion Munroe, Mario Smith, Bahiyya Hepburn, engineers.

Minister Sears said the Ministry is constantly strategizing and actively working to fix any and all issues. He outlined several measures to address road conditions. They include: a Pothole and Repair Blitz to correct the problem over a three months period; a Pothole Remediation Program in New Providence which includes contractors who have been mobilized to cover 12 zones; SeeClickFix to automate road maintenance complaints; increasing the road maintenance crew from one to three; and the commissioning of a new Astec Double Barrel Six Pack Asphalt Plant to manufacture and supply asphalt for the Ministry of Works roads patching and paving requirements of the Government.

“Workmen have been mobilized and are working 7 days per week patching roads in New Providence. Additionally, the zones have been increased from 9 to 12. There are more than 800 miles of road in New Providence. 85% of these roads are over 20 to 40 years old and need to be modernized.   While we are waiting for that to be done, the Ministry has embarked on a paving and repair programme to stabilize the roads,” said Minister Sears.

Bahiyyah Hepburn, engineer, informed that since July the Ministry has patched some 340 potholes per month.

“It is a monumental task especially since there is an existing backlog. Starting from the pandemic [there were} supply chain issues for getting material both for asphalt and equipment and we had to reduce the amount of patching. Pothole patching is a very sensitive process. If one thing impacts the entire process you will end up having more of a backlog. The current issue that we’re having now is from months of increased rain. In May this year [rain] inundated a lot of the island. It affects the base and weakens the undercarriage and causes issues with the top. The pothole patching is a stopgap measure until we can actually resurface the road.

Work on a dual carriageway for Gladstone Road is expected to begin in mid-2023. Dion Munroe, assistant engineer, said the Ministry is still in the process of completing the design.

“A part of that is land acquisition and encroachment issues that we are dealing with and reposition of infrastructure that has to be moved as part of the road reservation. We have an estimated 2 year program for completion of the works estimated,” said Munroe.

Minister Sears advised that the IDB and CDB have expressed interest in funding Gladstone Road and other infrastructure projects.

“We have to complete the design. To widen the road, land has to be acquired which requires negotiation with landowners. Power lines and poles have to be moved. When you’re dealing with roads it involves other stakeholders, utilizing the redevelopment to improve and upgrade the electrical infrastructure, water mains and laterals for WSC and also for BTC. It involves collaboration with other stakeholders related to infrastructure and electricity.” Clarke explained that all of the road construction projects will be in accordance of international standards similar to roads constructed under the Road Improvement Project that should have a life of 20 years or more.  (BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)

The Hon. Alfred Sears, Minister of Works and Utilities, is shown as he issues a statement on issues regarding BPL, water in Eleuthera, and road conditions.

Technical experts at the Ministry of Works and Utilities speak on matters regarding road conditions. From left to right: Damian Francis, Deputy Director, Bahiyyah Hepburn,  engineer and Francis Clarke, senior engineer.