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RT traffic nightmare continues; Road closure announced

- Ongoing construction continues on Sewerage lines; motorist inconvenienced
Motorists and businesses continue to be inconvenienced by the ongoing road works during commerce hours in Road Town. Photo: VINO
Government announced today February 22, 2017 that the road between the Governor's home and Sea View Hotel junction in Road Town will be completely closed from 7:00 PM until tomorrow 4:00 AM, February 23, 2017. Photo: VINO
Government announced today February 22, 2017 that the road between the Governor's home and Sea View Hotel junction in Road Town will be completely closed from 7:00 PM until tomorrow 4:00 AM, February 23, 2017. Photo: VINO
Currently, there is road work all day between the Peebles Hospital in Road Town and Slaney on the main island of Tortola, as the Ministry of Communications and Works continues the much needed installation of sewer pipes. Photo: VINO
Currently, there is road work all day between the Peebles Hospital in Road Town and Slaney on the main island of Tortola, as the Ministry of Communications and Works continues the much needed installation of sewer pipes. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- In most modem and developed countries, main road constructions or rehabilitation, especially in the capital cities, take place at nights when traffic is slow so that dust, wear and tear on automobiles and accidents could be at a minimum.

Well the Virgin Islands is different as major road rehabilitation, along with construction of sewerage main lines, takes place all day, in the peak of rush hour and commerce.

Currently, there is road work all day between the Peebles Hospital in Road Town and Slaney on the main island of Tortola, as the Ministry of Communications and Works continues the much needed installation of sewer pipes.

Road to close completely

To make matters worse, the Government announced today February 22, 2017 that the road between the Governor's home and Sea View Hotel junction in Road Town will be completely closed from 7:00 PM until tomorrow 4:00 AM, February 23, 2017.

According to a government statement “the purpose of the closure is to complete works on the sewerage system in that area. Motorists are asked to use alternate routes on the Ridge Road and to follow road signs placed to ensure their safety.”

No more details were provided from the Government Information Services (GIS) Spokeswoman Ms Nekita L. Turnbull, who dispatched the bulletin.

Can there be a balance?

While the public, motorists, businesses and pedestrians are aware of the need for works from time to time and understand clearly that there will be interruptions to businesses, residents and inconveniences to traffic flow, the public continues to be peeved about the short notices, lack of timely information before and after the projects and more so the time of the day the works are carried out.

Maybe one day we will have a Ministry of Communications and Works that can better plan, better communicate and have sympathy for businesses that lose monies during road works and an understanding (like the public has for the need for the works which must be carried out) for the need to balance minimising public discomfort and traffic nightmares.

As for the tear and wear on automobiles due to road conditions during the public works and the overwhelming delays and dust, that may be another matter.

39 Responses to “RT traffic nightmare continues; Road closure announced”

  • he called the police when ever there is a function in the QE park (22/02/2017, 15:35) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
    The governor don't want to be disturb at nites but it is okay to inconvenience the rest of us
  • Fed Up (22/02/2017, 15:38) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    why them didn't used the puerto ricans with their underground boring tool?
  • Yes (22/02/2017, 15:46) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    Neki Ya Large
  • lord o. (22/02/2017, 15:48) Like (60) Dislike (0) Reply
    Messing up the traffic is not the real problem. That is necessary at times. The real problem is when they digging up the same area 3 4 5 times... That should be crime. ," Gross misuse of tax payers money". Time people be held accountable for tax payers money.
  • Concerned (22/02/2017, 15:56) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why not do this in the summer when there are no cruise ship tourists and safari buses with tourists on board who then tell their friends what a horrible place this was.....?
  • Xxx (22/02/2017, 15:57) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    Mark cant run a store why you all sirprised
  • No Man (22/02/2017, 16:10) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    The PR company were here to install the HDPE force main line to the Seven Seas plant by Road Reef. These new pipes appear to be gravity fed lines and this work should not have been started without public notices. This otice is AFTER the fact and I am sure the Guv isn't all too happy about the noise and dust either. This is the WORST MCW in memory and each and every time it appears as if they (MCW) are getting more and more lackadaisical! I see an electrician there (contractor) and lots of heavy equipment; yet the works see, to be crawling at a snails pace - wtf is going on? Now after the road is rebuilt/re-surfaced I bet my life savings that some utility company will dig it up not too long after it is done. Any bets? I hope these new pipelines are good for 25 years minimum and the need to replace the entire line will not occur at least for that period of time. This is what you get when a grocer and his inept advisers take the helm of one of the most critical ministries in BVI Gov. - we all suffer for their utter failures!
    • www.bvi.gov.vg (22/02/2017, 20:21) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
      "this work should not have been started without public notices" they say. Look the notice here - http://bvi.gov.vg/media-centre/works-gravity-main-upgrades-road-town-continues. Call GIS tomorrow to subscribe for information about government okay boo. While you're at it, most of the road works can be found at this website www.bvi.gov.vg/roadworks. Do yourself a favor and don't wait for VINO to post a story on what's happening around you. okay.
      • No Man (23/02/2017, 09:41) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
        @www.bvi.gov.vg - thanks you for the website locating the PSA; however I think a PROACTIVE Government and by extension MCW should have this notice say on a billboard by the round-about or by the QE2 park well in-advance for those whom may not want to visit the BVI GIS website to find out these things! Some of us (apparently unlike yourself boo) have actual jobs that do not allow us frivolous time to waste searching BVI Gov websites for info. relating to public works. You most definitely are a MCW worker - go find something tangible to do with your time sweetheart!
        • Yes (23/02/2017, 10:15) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
          but you are at work reading news right. Just saying, it seems like you do have A LOT time at your job looking at post times from these comments. LOL LOL LOL LOL #butnomanaintserious
          • No Man (23/02/2017, 11:01) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
            @ Lol......I am self-employed and my BUSINESSES allow me the time to drop in to peruse the dingle-berries posting such as yourself! Does your supervisor know that you doing this on Government time?
            • Yes (23/02/2017, 14:34) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
              @no man .... Good for you! I'm actually a student if you must know and I bet making assumptions is part of your daily job. I'm sure that there are plenty of Government employees working harder than you right now. I can bet that you will reply.
        • Be Forthcoming (23/02/2017, 18:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          Probably the same person whose name they mentioned in the article since they're on a rant.
      • Guest (23/02/2017, 18:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        You sound petty and if an employee of Government should have more tact.
  • wize up (22/02/2017, 16:30) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    can you say (leadership) it matters
  • wtf? (22/02/2017, 16:33) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    You dun say! Da BVI shore ain't no modern an develop country! Truth!
  • get people who know what they are doing (22/02/2017, 16:36) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Stone messed up around the round-a-bout with another bad sewage job before...Look how it is sinking
  • Sammy (22/02/2017, 17:39) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply

    Ah set of @$%^&  what you expect

  • Mr. P (22/02/2017, 18:05) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    The worst part of this mess is that before Festival season the same road will have to be paved all over again.
  • old man (22/02/2017, 19:39) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Holy cow. I hate the ridge road
  • JBN (22/02/2017, 19:41) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'm sure they laughing in their sleep. Take that Mr Governor and smoke it. Sleepless nights for you. Lol.
  • Judge Judy (22/02/2017, 19:48) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Kudos to the vino for bringing us relevant news daily
  • I SAY (22/02/2017, 21:54) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    A bunch of Jack...es, any major road work should be done at night when there is less traffic.
  • oh (22/02/2017, 23:43) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    what do you expect ? A five year old could do better ? How much wasted money this time ?
    • wize up (23/02/2017, 08:18) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ oh: good question for the new opposition leader to ask Vanterpool....just a follow up(what happen to the street lights) from road town round about....
  • Citizen (23/02/2017, 02:46) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is a family affair. I wonder if any other minister would be allowed to do such nonsense.That is why a minister should not be be closely related to the premier. Everyone can see what is happening. Who suffers? The people. Recently the Fire Chief talked about law against people burning on their own property. Which is worse? Asmaticsdriving through that dust daily has toget sick. People who are well are suffering from the dust on road works right in the town. Is that what we are selling to our tourists?
  • SA (23/02/2017, 08:06) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Premier getting even/revenge on Governor!!
  • HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROAD (23/02/2017, 08:22) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who's stupid plan it is to use the hospital emergency road to detour? That's a no no.
  • E. Leonard (23/02/2017, 09:42) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Though roads needs to closed periodically to perform maintenance and repair or install or upgrade utilities, every effort should be employed to minimize inconvenience, delay and congestion. The government needs to be sensitive not only to its cost but also to the economic impact on businesses due to closure of roadways during peak business hours. Further, Tortola has limited roadways and unlike in larger locales alternate routes are limited. Consequently, though the pipe project will cost more, it to the maximum extent practical should be performed at night to reduce the impact on motorists and business owners.

    Moreover, any other utilities that needs to be repaired, maintained and constructed should be coordinated with utility operators and performed during the road closure to avoid having to cut into orvclose roads at a late date, further inconveniencing residents.
  • civil servant (23/02/2017, 11:48) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Just read some bull that nikita wrote on fb SMH
  • Observer (23/02/2017, 11:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    And how long before they pave, dig it up again then apply some make shift patch work only to leave it like that for the next 100 years... they already did it on that newly paved stretch of road leading into sea cows bay.
  • pipo (23/02/2017, 13:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    they're doing the best they can with the materials being provided here. the pipes are weed pipes so they don't
    hold together like plumbing pipes.
  • Stupidness Ain't Sense (23/02/2017, 18:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    By the way, persons taking Sea Cows Bay coming from Joes Hill upwards, stop driving like nimcompoops as you obviously realize there are blind corners especially when you reach the top of the hill to head down Sea Cows Bay that leads to the school.


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