4th District Representative Dr. Vincent Scatliffe (2nd from left) looks on as PWD workers continue with the widening of the Methodist Manse Road. Photo: Reuben Stoby/VINO

The excavation of the section of land on the left leading to the road known as Joe's Hill still awaits permission from the land owner. Photo: VINO

Virgin Islands News Online visited the work site yesterday October 13, 2011 where blasting and excavation of soil on the hillside were ongoing. Also on location was 4th District representative Dr. Vincent Scatliffe, who was checking on the progress of works and was pleased to report that the eight-week project, being executed by the Ministry of Communications and Works through the Public Works Department, was 50 percent completed and on schedule.

Work started on October 8, 2011 in the vicinity of the Methodist Manse and proceeded to the direction of Joe’s Hill where the final stretch for blasting and excavation awaits permission from the land owner. "We have an eight-week duration but it looks like we are about schedule. These guys are working very well. I can see that 50 percent of the work has already been completed. We are waiting on the final section. So far we have only had agreement by those land owners in the area to commence the work and we are awaiting the agreement by the other land owner here before we can commence with the rest of the work.”

Dr. Scatliffe added that all the other land owners along with the residents in the area were very interested in seeing the road widened. “So there was no money that exchanged hands for properties here. The agreement was that we just cut an access road for them,” Dr. Scatliffe told Virgin Islands News Online.

Meanwhile, measures have been put in place to minimise traffic operation impacts such as access and safety and the road known as the Paul Wattley By-pass road is closed to traffic travelling east from Russell Hill at the junction to the St. Georges School and access from Joe’s Hill road has been restricted to residents only. Persons dropping off or picking up children at St. Georges School are being asked to use the Main Street access for the duration of the project.

“We know that the road is heavily used and therefore we are asking for the cooperation of motorists so that the works could be executed in a timely manner,” Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works Mrs. Arlene Smith Thompson had previously stated in a GIS press release.

Dr. Scatliffe had previously described the widening of the Manse Road as a vital project since that carriageway would be depended upon to take off some of the traffic when the Road Town Sewerage Project gets underway.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in May, Hon. Scatliffe had said the widening of the road was long awaited and ever since he came to the council he had worked tirelessly to get the project completed. “Because I understand the importance of it and the traffic challenges that we face with that piece of road network. This Manse road is very important to the sewerage project. It is all tied in because as we start the work on the sewerage project it is going to start some traffic challenges and that road would become very vital to take the excess traffic over onto the general road network,” the 4th District representative had said.