Manse Road dug up again!
Mr. Hodge confirmed that the works being done on the road are to install a drainage system, construct a sidewalk and install the solar light lamp posts for the street.
"We are putting in the lights, the water cable and everything else, as well as the new feed of line for power from Long Bush."
He told this news site that on-site workers had to re-dig the sidewalk because the amount of voltage coming from Long Bush was taken for granted.
"It was extremely high, 80,000 [volts], for the safety of the public, we decided to carry it deeper."
Mr. Hodge stated that the due to the high voltage coming from Long Bush to Pockwood Pond, they decided to re-dig and carry the wires deeper below ground level "for the safety of the public."
He assured this news site, that this was a result of himself and workers taking for granted the amount of voltage coming from Long Bush, rather than any mistake being made. He assured that no mistakes were made.
"It was a cautionary measure for the public, we don't want if someone is walking, they get electrocuted or something like that, so we decided that we won't take the chance, we are going to go deeper."
Mr. Hodge continued to insist that there was no additional cost for the sidewalk that had to be re-dug deeper for the wires.
On the construction site, Virgin Islands News Online, spoke to a Water and Sewerage Department foreman Mr. Andrew Monsanto. The work being done by his department on the newly paved road, according to Mr. Monsanto is for the installation of water pipes below ground level to provide the surrounding community with water. Mr. Monsanto added that electricity and phone cables were also laid beneath ground level.
He claimed that only 20 feet of the road that was recently paved prior to August Monday, was dug up. "After it was so close to festival, concrete takes 21 days to dry and the 20 days before we laid the road was exactly August Monday."
Mr. Monsanto said that the Water and Sewerage Department is aiming for work to finish by today, August 21, 2012.
When contacted, Minister for Communications and Works, Hon. Mark Vanterpool confirmed that work being done on the road is to lay the pipes to provide water to neighboring communities, as well as the construction of sidewalks and proper lighting. The Minister added that he would also like the work to be done before any tropical weather.
Public's Opinion
Although many did not know about all the things being done on the Manse Road other than the road being paved, most shared the same sentiments, where they stated that, it is indeed a good idea and a good effort made by the government to pave the road and put in place everything they are doing with the road, while others said, that careful planning should have been executed, that while going forward, there should never be a time of going backwards to reconstruct something that was already built or laid.
Speaking to a random resident, he expressed to this news site, in regards to government workers having to go over some work again, destroying something that was already built to do over and build it again, "this is becoming a habit."
He added that the extra cost taken to reconstruct something, could have been invested in another project.
Another man, who claims that from since the road was pre-constructed, he constantly drives on that hill, said that the road is being carefully constructed and he sees no wrong in redoing something, and making it better.
"There is money in everything…,” he added "The road is a very good road and when its finish, the traffic is going to be thick with all who calling it down."
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