Premier Wheatley wants roads that ‘will last us for the next 30, 40 years’
The Premier was speaking at the contract signing ceremony with Tortola Paving Company Limited to pave nine (9) miles of road from the Road Town Ferry Terminal to the West End Ferry Terminal.
The contract, the largest in history, was signed on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, in the amount of fourteen million, eighty-eight thousand, six hundred and twenty dollars and two cents ($14,088,620.02).
Our News Centre was the first to report on the contract being awarded to Tortola Paving Limited.
Premier Wheatley said a lot of persons have been speaking about the state of the roads, but what he knows Minister for Communications and Works, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5), is working very hard to address the problems.
“It takes time, it takes money, it takes commitment and determination, and the minister has displayed that and it revealed itself in this contract signing here today.”
Premier Wheatley added, “We are looking forward to having improved roads in the Territory. One that will last us for the next 30, 40 years, and that we will all be proud of.”
Roads will last if properly maintained- Kimberly R. Ritter
Manager of Tortola Paving Company Limited Ms Kimberly R. Ritter thanked the Government of the Virgin Islands for choosing her company to complete the nine miles of road works and emphasised the importance of investing in the maintenance of roads in the Territory so that they can stand the test of time.
“The Honourable Premier said that he wants these roads to last for 30 to 40 years. As we have done our research, roads rarely last about 20-30 years, depending on the maintenance of the road. So, as we complete our road, I want to encourage you to make sure you keep up on the maintenance as it goes along with what we do.
"I can assure you that the people of the Virgin Islands will be happy and pleased, because we will do our end, and then they'll have paving as smooth as their rides. So, we thank you again for this opportunity, and we will deliver.”
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24 Responses to “Premier Wheatley wants roads that ‘will last us for the next 30, 40 years’”
Is the RDA involved and if so why not - the roads they did at International Motors are great, and out the efforts of the Govt at paraquita bay to shame!
Has anybody checked that BVI Elec, Water & Sewage, BVI Cable, and the phone companies have put down all the lines and conduits that the need. We don’t want the roads dug up 6 months after they are finished.
when i see yall bring in some real specialist like chinese or americans or anywhere with good rep on building roads then i will take yall serious but as for now is just who turn next to dip into the cookie jar while the less fortune continue to mash up their cars on the roads they pay tax for
look how long hodges creek road taking..........2 years going into 3
tax returns when?
Moreover, the 9-mile project is referred to as “Paving” project. Is this indicating that the roads are not in a failed condition? The proper fix generally for a failed road is reconstruction, ie, excavating the road down to the subgrade, ensuring that the subgrade is stabilized before putting work in place for the reconstruction. Just paving over a failed road may not be the best use of limited construction dollars.
An asphalt road is like a layered cake with a definite lifecycle. Let’s take a peek at a 20-year flexible pavement ( asphalt) road. To attain, closely approach, etc., the design life, requires periodic planned performance maintenance work. Work put in place with proper drainage ( poor drainage contributes to premature road failure), generally at the 7- year mark a seal coat is applied. At the 15-year mark, an overlay is applied. An overlay entails milling the top surface, putting down a new surface. At the 20- year mark, the road is reconstructed. Other maintenance between the periodic schedules, entails, ie, crack sealing, sectional repairs, skin patching, persistent pothole repair.
Further, concrete ( fixed pavement) generally cost more to put in place, has a longer lifecycle, requires less maintenance ( at the joints), etc.
VI roads seems to have a relatively short lifecycle. A major contributing factor to the shortened life may be poor drainage, poor cross slopes, low elevations, run-on, etc. The elevations of the road should be raised. The roads are flat with little or no “ crown”, poor cross slopes, poor road drainage systems, etc. The flatness of the roads result in ponding, contributing to premature road failure, slow traffic flow, etc.
Yes, the BVI is experiencing the same thing. Presently, indigenous (some may debate the use of the term indigenous. Oh, well…..) Virgin Islanders is a minority in the BVI; the estimated ratio is approximately is 60:40. Moreover, people are not only resource that is slipping away; land, a non-renewable resource, is changing hands at an accelerated rate. Some of the diaspora abroad who inherited land but may not be returning is offloading it. At the current rate, indigenous Virgin Islanders will not only a minority in the population but will also be landless.
@E. Leonard, you have written articles on road construction and maintenance for publishing in the local eNews, print media. Nevertheless, other than educational theory what other experience(s), training do you have under your belt. It is just a curiosity. It seems you have a relative good grasp of the road construction process. The Frig…,out. Getting ready for God’s willing 2026. Feliz ano Nuevo!
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Specify properly engineered roads for the conditions and loads and hold the contractors to the specifications. Extend the defects liability period past the regular to ensure at least in the short terms they were built properly.