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Motorists blast Gov’t over inconvenience of road repairs

- many suggest all work should be done at nights when motor traffic is small & not during the busy hours of the day
Motorists and other members of the public have flooded our newsroom with calls and complaints about what they described as the insensitivity of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration over the time they carry out the much needed road repairs. Photo: VINO
Many persons are calling on the NDP government to be more sensitive to the convenience of the drivers who use the public roads by having major works and road paving done at nights when traffic is less, so it does not pose a huge issue to the busy movement of people and goods. Photo: Team of Reporters
Many persons are calling on the NDP government to be more sensitive to the convenience of the drivers who use the public roads by having major works and road paving done at nights when traffic is less, so it does not pose a huge issue to the busy movement of people and goods. Photo: Team of Reporters
Many callers agreed that the road repairs and other digging up to lay sewerage pipes are very much necessary and long overdue, however, the public is wondering why most of the work goes on during the day, in the middle of rush hour traffic. Photo: VINO
Many callers agreed that the road repairs and other digging up to lay sewerage pipes are very much necessary and long overdue, however, the public is wondering why most of the work goes on during the day, in the middle of rush hour traffic. Photo: VINO
According to a Government Information Service press statement issued on December 8, 2015, Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) appeared to blame motorists, claiming that they must 'stop abusing the laws of the roads.' Photo: VINO/File
According to a Government Information Service press statement issued on December 8, 2015, Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) appeared to blame motorists, claiming that they must 'stop abusing the laws of the roads.' Photo: VINO/File
Some roads, such as in Carrot Bay, have been understandably closed off entirely to traffic due to the nature of the works. Photo: VINO
Some roads, such as in Carrot Bay, have been understandably closed off entirely to traffic due to the nature of the works. Photo: VINO
Other times roads are just closed off suddenly for repairs, giving the public no notice and resulting in long waiting time and major inconvenience to the public, sometimes on the weekends going or coming from church, funerals or grocery shopping, some of the irate callers reported. Photo: VINO
Other times roads are just closed off suddenly for repairs, giving the public no notice and resulting in long waiting time and major inconvenience to the public, sometimes on the weekends going or coming from church, funerals or grocery shopping, some of the irate callers reported. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Motorists and other members of the public have flooded our newsroom with calls and complaints about what they described as the insensitivity of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration over the time they carry out the much needed road repairs.

No help for motorists

Many callers agreed that the road repairs and other digging up to lay sewerage pipes are very much necessary and long overdue, however, the public is wondering why most of the work goes on during the day, in the middle of rush hour traffic.

They are calling on the NDP government to be more sensitive to the convenience of the drivers who use the public roads by having major works and road paving done at nights when traffic is less, so it does not pose a huge issue to the busy movement of people and goods.

One lady, who identified herself as Janet, told our newsroom that it is bad from the Prospect Reef roundabout to McNamara going east and west bound.

The angry motorist claimed that for the past week or two she has been late for work because the Government in the mist of the rush hour traffic [8:00 AM to 6:00 PM], is digging up the roads, trying to pave it, or otherwise on the road with work crews interrupting the flow of traffic. “That is something they can do at nights,” she said.

When told that there are times when emergencies may cause them to work during rush hour and road work will have to be done during the day, ‘Janet’ said in those situations she can understand but “no one can tell me there have been emergencies for two weeks and you can’t get to work.”

Other times roads are just closed off suddenly for repairs, giving the public no notice and resulting in long waiting time and major inconvenience to the public, sometimes on the weekends going or coming from church, funerals or grocery shopping, some of the irate callers reported.

Hard & costly on vehicles, pedestrians

Another issue the callers raised is the effect of the road repairs to vehicles. They told our news room that some vehicles have received flat tires, while others had to replace shocks directly related to the road repairs they alleged. Others claimed to be afraid to take alternate routes over the hills because of the dangers of the small and narrow roads and the size of trucks and Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) having to traverse these roads.

The crews that are usually on the roads doing road rehabilitation and other repairs are from the Public Works and Water and Sewerage Departments, along with some private sector contractors and equipment operators.

The road repairs also result in pot holes when asphalt is removed from the road surface and is left in that condition for weeks, resulting in huge challenges to motorists.

There are also reports that some government workers have refused to work at nights because of issues of overtime payments or inconvenience to them and their families. A senior Public Works Department official said he was not aware of such issues. “That sound like rumours,” he said when told of reports reaching our newsroom.

Pedestrians have also complained that they also suffer as it’s more difficult to cross the roads during the bad road conditions and at certain points because of the pot holes. They claimed too that sometimes motorists will splash water on them, causing embarrassment and much inconvenience as they sometimes have to return home for a change of clothing.

Government response: It’s the drivers’ fault!

According to a Government Information Service press statement issued on December 8, 2015, Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) appeared to blame motorists, claiming that they must “stop abusing the laws of the roads.”

The Minister also asked that motorists be mindful of the high influx of tourists in the territory and asked drivers to “refrain from abusing the laws of the road.”

The Minister lectured the motorists via his press statement, requesting that they “take time and drive in a manner that the traffic can flow in a safe way.”

33 Responses to “Motorists blast Gov’t over inconvenience of road repairs”

  • justice (09/12/2015, 10:49) Like (18) Dislike (10) Reply
    thanks for this VINO they care nothing about us just more political work
    • HMPH (aka Socal Comanter) (09/12/2015, 14:23) Like (7) Dislike (15) Reply
      Dem prevous govarnmants dun no road fixes for 20 year so we are no used to closing road - now at last dem doin sum fixin o roads we shod be happies no sad
  • @ (09/12/2015, 11:34) Like (14) Dislike (3) Reply

    Mark its not the drivers fault for your ministry sloppy and unprofessional work. However if you want to finally inforce legal parking,etc. work with the governors offers for once in getting police doing some work. But the mess going on the actual road is all you!!!
  • FairPlay (09/12/2015, 11:38) Like (12) Dislike (10) Reply
    The Government is not blaming drivers...stop misleading the public! The minister is just calling on motorists to look out for the many tourists and other pedestrians and drive properly on the roads. There are drivers who abuse the road laws, I see it all the time. What is so wrong about asking motorists exercise extreme caution and to respect pedestrians who are crossing the roads? And what is wrong with him asking these drivers to slow down and stop messing up people clothes on wet roads?
    • @ FairPlay (09/12/2015, 12:22) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
      funny man go home
    • rewrsdffds (09/12/2015, 15:35) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      Put police on the road and make them do their jobs. That is what police is for to enforce law and keep people safe..
      Without good police doing good work its a free for all out here in these streets. The people who want and try to do the right thing backs are against the wall. You call police and they do nothing so -- something got to give and it starts with Government enforcing good law that is meant to protect the people
  • don (09/12/2015, 12:13) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is a real problem
  • he is only wasting money (09/12/2015, 12:21) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    potholes popping up on most of the newly paved roads... a million dollars wasted on cheap chinese equipment...not one working after 6 months...15 million dollars borrowed for roads depleted in less than 8 months....big dissapointment!
  • The NDP (09/12/2015, 12:22) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    is a patch-n-go government.
  • Unfortunately (09/12/2015, 12:25) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Yea yea a stupid man slash water on me cloths and me had to tek dey day off work real talk
    • HMPH (socal comantar) (09/12/2015, 18:21) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      is true - govanmant workers can no go o work wid wet clothes an needs a days off
  • NDP Activist (09/12/2015, 12:25) Like (6) Dislike (9) Reply
    Do nothing people Talk,Do something people complain.What should we do to please the BVi people,put back the VIP Lol Jokes.
    • @NDP Activist (09/12/2015, 15:36) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply

      Trying doing the right thing for all and not just a select few.
  • disgruntled road user (09/12/2015, 12:49) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply

    Them don't want no dust to blow in on customers in the pub so that is the reason why the paving is going on during the day.

  • foxy (09/12/2015, 13:45) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mark trying but not ready for prime time
  • forward to the past (09/12/2015, 14:28) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where we're going, we don't need roads.
  • i from here (09/12/2015, 15:05) Like (6) Dislike (8) Reply
    Well done Mark! Keep the goods work up!

    They want good roads, VIP ain't give them the roads but they ain't had a thing to say but because NDP giving them the roads they willful crying foul.

    You let them work at night, when they hear how much was paid out in over time pay they will cry again saying those guys sucking on the Gov't nipples!

    Set of sick people!
    • Hush (09/12/2015, 21:35) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      I guess the whole country was dirt roads until NDP got in to pave them. Hypocrite.
    • jah know (14/12/2015, 10:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Stfu, let those who work at night for this particular project stay home at day and let those who is not assigned to work on that project continue to work at day.
  • ta ta (09/12/2015, 15:07) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    How come dem pave in front of a strip club?
  • Lily Ann (09/12/2015, 15:21) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Yuh just cant plz BVI people ... the Gov trying to upgrade the sewerage infrastructure and yall btchn .... my peace !!! Yall dont done ???? .... they do -- u upset ... they aint do... u gonna say u sorry for putting them in power !!!
    • cow city (10/12/2015, 00:31) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      he trying to used plan hon.frazer had but he can't work all he about is ssb million
  • WE WILL SEE (09/12/2015, 16:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope they don't pave it in December and digg it up in February.. They could have at lease wait until January.
  • facts man (09/12/2015, 16:56) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ndp does not care about the locals
  • NDP Activist (09/12/2015, 17:57) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Since NDP in power check the bank accounts for businesses all around the country,ya head will hurt ya,any businesses closing,10000,work permits issue in one year ,if ya over board please get on the boat to sail for another 2020 victory..
    • Drugs (09/12/2015, 20:56) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      Keep with your lies more business close under ndp than vip thank god the thingz on street start to flow again
  • NDP Activist (10/12/2015, 04:20) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Bring the Facts about these stores closing,if stores wasn't closing under VIP they will be in power all now .Talk That,Thats a Fact..
  • strong (10/12/2015, 11:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    what a droll irony that things like this will destroy you economically but no one aint talking
  • wize up (11/12/2015, 07:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    as a developing territory we actually need the upgrading of the current infrastructure: the concern is the level and quality of the works which are being carried out: the other concern is the placement of proper sinage informing the users of the public roads that working are being carried out: simple projects are taking far to long, over 6 months to build the side walk in sea cows bay.....


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