Final checks being conducted on Gov’ts asphalt plant - Jeremy W. Hodge
The Director thanked the entities including the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) and the Department of Information Technology for their assistance in setting up the asphalt plant and for ensuring that it was configured to be connected to the internet thereby ensuring that issues will be identified and rectified in the future.
He added that the plant’s technician and members of his team are in the Territory ensuring that the checks are completed.
Checks being completed - Hodge
Hodge detailed that the plant’s technician and members of his team are in the Territory ensuring that the checks are completed while adding that plans are underway to address the Territory’s roads in a holistic manner.
“I know that there will be a lot of anxiety but we will get around to all those roads, including your community,” he said.
Mr. Hodge added, “We are also in communication with some technicians overseas to work along with our technicians to share expertise on road paving and other techniques.”
Hodge also issued an invitation to persons who are about to complete their heavy equipment license and those with an interest in learning about asphalt or its applications to sign up with the Registration Apprenticeship Training Employment and Development (RATED) Programme where they will receive the necessary training when another team of technicians arrives in the Territory.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
22 Responses to “Final checks being conducted on Gov’ts asphalt plant - Jeremy W. Hodge”
That toxic smoke is hazardous to the people
Moreover, it comes down to strong , effective leadership and management. A leader/ruler is responsible for the welfare, security, and discipline of his/her people. He/she needs to have a wide range of knowledge, skills, and personal qualities. He/she also must be trained in self-discipline and statecraft before taking office. And while in office, he/she must be advised by able and experienced people. Further, government is possible only with assistance . A single wheel does not move. By the way, I too endorsed Public Works being led by an experience engineer. Graduating from college is not strong experience; college is theory.
[lets lead like eagles, not corralled off the cliff like buffaloes].
Moreover, in addition to poor design, construction, inspection and maintenance, a major contributing factor to the deteriorated road conditions is poor drainage, ie, ponding on the road. As a minimum, roads should be designed and constructed with a proper crowns and cross slopes to facilitate runoff from roads into side ditches, curb and gutters, etc. Often times, engineers are blamed for poor design of roads. Well, assuming that a road is effectively design, if it is not constructed consistent with the design, premature road, shorten lifecycle will result. Effective inspection is critical to ensuring that a road project is constructed consistent with design.
Further, road constructed as designed, it requires periodic maintenance to attain and maintain functionality, and achieved its planned lifecycle. Let’s take a peak at the minimum planned maintenance schedules for a 20-year asphalt, flexible pavement, road. An asphalt road is like a layered cake, ie., subgrade, subbase, base, and surface course. Construction completed and road put in service, at the 7-year mark, a seal coat is applied over the surface course. At the 15-year life, the surface or top coat is completely milled and replaced with an overlay. Finally, at the 20-year mark, the road is dug up and reconstructed. And in between these maintenance schedules, crack sealing may be needed.
Moreover, each jurisdiction clearly will have its own lifecycle(s) and will have different maintenance schedules. Nevertheless, VI roads must last longer than the next 2-year rain. Here are a few truths , ie, a smooth road is not necessarily a good road, the only fix for a failed road is reconstruction, water ponding on roads will quickly result in premature road failure, starting with potholes. By the way, in a small locale like the VI, potholes may be a nuisance but manageable.
Moreover, poor roads are not consistent with a First World image, adversely impacts quality of life and standards of living, impacts economic growth and development, increase s reconstruction cost, enhances the probability for accidents, increases vehicle owners operating cost, poor image for tourism sector, 1/2 of economic twin pillars etc.