Oct. 9, 2004 – Public Works Commissioner Wayne Callwood finally broke the silence regarding the stalled Midland road reconstruction project in a press release issued on Thursday.
Callwood confirmed what affected residents have been speculating — the project has been "temporarily suspended" pending an investigation by the Justice Department. The commissioner said "difficulties surrounding the existing contract" caused the delay.
In August, Public Works officials announced construction had begun on the project, which has been pending for at least three years. The project was expected to take 270 days and completed by the end of April 2005. (See "Midland Road Closed to Through Traffic"). Construction was halted less than a week after it began.
In last week's Senate session, Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste announced there was something amiss with the project. Jn Baptiste said the removal of a structure to house construction equipment caused him concern.
"That said to me that something was wrong," Jn Baptiste said of the structure's removal. The St. Croix senator said he asked around and three credible sources told him that something "egregious" was going on, and the project "would not go on in a hurry."
The Midland road, also known as Route 72, spans about three miles and runs through the neighborhoods of Glynn, Mon Bijou and Calquohoun. It has been called the worst road in the Virgin Islands federal road system. The surface of the road is sinking in several places, causing sharp dips, uneven surfaces and potholes, making driving precarious. Drivers routinely swerve to the left and right of the road attempting to avoid damage to their vehicles. In several places the rise of the road reduces visibility and increases the incidences of vehicular and pedestrian accidents.
V.I. Asphalt and Paving Company (VIAPCO) Company was awarded the $5 million project through a competitive bidding process. However, it was the only company to bid on the project.
"It's disheartening to hear that because of some egregious practice that the project might be derailed," Jn Baptiste said. "The Midland Road has been in a state of disrepair for well over three years. It's a long overdue and long-awaited project. Folks have been waiting for some relief for years."
Property and Procurement commissioner Marc Biggs would not comment on the nature of the irregularities being investigated in the contract. The Virgin Islands government uses federal guidelines in the awarding of the contracts, he said.
V.I. Source reporter Michelle Dominique contributed to this story.
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