Tenders out for 38 miles of road repairs across VI
This comes as the Dr Wheatley-led Government and Works Minister Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) have faced a whipping from both the public and Members of the Opposition on the state of VI's infrastructure.
The rehabilitation of roads on a large-scale level is now possible since the local asphalt plant has been back in working order.
Scope of works
The scope of works, according to the tender document released today, October 26, 2023, will include all plant, labour, equipment, and materials and performing all operations in connection with the Asphalt paving of 38 miles of primary roads in conformity with an internationally acceptable standard inclusive of a finished asphalt mix and placement with a lifespan of at minimum 15 years.
The scope of works also requires the provision of a curb, slipper drain, and sidewalk paving machine for use in installing all curb, slipper drains, and sidewalks where the machine will be handed over to the Government of the Virgin Islands at the conclusion of the contract with an allowance for the training of Public Works personnel.
More on the scope of works can be found HERE.
Among other requirements, companies from the VI submit tenders and are required to submit a Trade License (valid for 2023). Companies not registered or operating in the VI face an added requirement of the provision of a valid business license or equivalency as proof of authorization to operate a business in the area of the required expertise in its jurisdiction of operation.
Bid documents will be available from Monday, 30th October 2023, on weekdays between 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and will be tenderers electronically upon request to procurement@gov.vg with the subject title “Asphalt Paving and Road Marking in Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Jost van Dyke.
Road repair already in the works
Some of the first road repairs works done since the asphalt plant has been back in working order included resurfacing the roads outside the Premier’s Office at the Cutlass Tower building, on Wickham’s Cay I, Road Town, Tortola, and the resurfacing of roads on Beef Island.
Meanwhile, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) speaking at the contract signing for the rehabilitation of the roadway from Hodge's Creek Marina to Paraquita Bay on October 24, 2023, said the government has plans to borrow, including to be able to solve the age-old challenges that the Territory has in relation to road infrastructure.
“As the budget speech is coming up, you will hear more about our plans to borrow so that we can provide the public with the roads that they deserve,” Dr Wheatley stated.
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50 Responses to “Tenders out for 38 miles of road repairs across VI”
Fix Cane Garden Bay %o&king road! Its been damaged since the 2017 flood!
Same thing different day
proper job with the people’s tax money
Did Government/Public Works conduct a comprehensive Pavement Condition Index( PCI), an assessment, of the road network to determine the true condition of the road network, which will drive what action(s) is needed, a) maintenance and repair, b) structural rehabilitation, c) reconstruction, etc. If the PCI indicates that a road network segment has completely failed, there is only one effective fix—-complete reconstruction. Applying a seal coat or overlay to a failed road is at best a band aid, aesthetics. An asphalt road is a structure, ie, subgrade (bottom layer which is akin to the foundation of a building), subbase, base, and surface course. If the subgrade or base courses have failed, that failure reflects upwards.
The article suggests that government is specifying a 15 year lifecycle for asphalt. However, in order to attain and exceed that design life-cycle, some periodic maintenance and repair actions are needed, ie, routine maintenance (crack sealing, pot holes repair), periodic maintenance (seal coat, overlay), rehabilitation, etc.
Moreover, is the planned road network work being performed under new design standards? Will the work require setting elevation for a crown @ centerline of road, setting proper cross slopes to facilitate runoff from roadway to prevent ponding and premature road failure, setting elevation of the crown above the elevation of the adjacent areas to avoid run on onto the road , constructing functional road side ditches. Poor drainage is a major contributing factor to premature road failure.