March 19, 2004 – St. Croix roads are finally getting a much-needed face-lift. Crews from the V.I. Public Works Department have teamed up with private contractors to repair deteriorated sections of public roads. The Public Finance Authority provided funding in the amount of $2.5 million to complete the project.
According to Tony Messer, technical assistant to the commissioner of Public Works, crews are presently working on a schedule that will repair "approximately 20 percent" of St. Croix's federal route roads and local (paved) roads. The work includes excavation, shoulder and ditch reconditioning, placement of aggregate-base hot asphalt concrete pavement and asphalt pavement milling. The department is also overseeing roadside cleaning. There are approximately 325 miles of paved roads in St. Croix.
The project began on St. Croix two weeks ago. Now that the funds are released and the contractors are in place, the roadwork will continue through May, Messer explained. Public Works has contracted two local companies, VIAPACO and VI Paving Co. to assist in the completion of the roadwork. Several areas have already been completed and residents are enjoying driving on the new pothole- free roads.
Areas completed include:
— Route 74, Little Princess – concrete swale approximately 12 feet completed. Overlay of road will be completed in about a week.
— Northshore road from Knight Bay to Legion Hall.
— Route 63, Northshore road, Frederiksted, 21/2 miles of road completed.
— Good Hope Villa road adjacent to route 66 completed.
— Villa Morales road in Estate Campo Rico completed.
— Portions of All For The Better (East End) completed.
— Route 63 Whim near Renholt Jackson Ballpark completed.
These areas are in progress or will be completed by next week:
— Route 701 Carlton, Johnson Road
— Estate Two Williams
— Altona area
Approximately 225 miles of roadside cleaning has also been completed islandwide. Messer explained that crews from Public Works as well as private contractors are working the roadside brush cutting.
Responding to the question of using prisoners to perform roadside cleaning, Messer cited several problems associated with using incarcerated personnel. "Security is the issue," he said. "Department of Corrections officers must be hired to oversee prisoners."
"The department is shorthanded and the overtime pay is high," he said.
Messer acknowledged the effect water damage has on the road surface. Deterioration of the local roads had been greatly exacerbated by the heavy rains of November past. November 2003 rains set a record on St. Croix with 17.66 inches of rain topping the previous record set in 1961 of 14.73 inches. (See Additional rain results in more flooding.)
"We are establishing better drainage … the roads should last longer," Messer said. "Without adequate drainage roads usually last about 2 to 3 years, but with adequate drainage the roads will last about 10 to 12 years," he noted.
Residents in the Calquohoun and Mon Bijou area can also anticipate a little relief. Repairs to the Midland Road will begin in May, Messer indicated. Called the worst road in the Virgin Islands, Midland Road stretches from Estate Glynn to Estate Grove Place and is a virtual rollercoaster of dips and valleys marked by craterlike potholes that force motorists to veer from one side of the street to the other in an attempt to avoid serious damage to their vehicles.
"This project will take a year and a half to complete," Messer said. He explained the project requires cross-departmental cooperation. "WAPA will be replacing the water lines and Innovative will be replacing telephones lines," he added.
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