Four decades after it was first proposed, five years after groundbreaking and a week after opening to traffic, V.I. and federal officials on Thursday ceremoniously cut the ribbon on the Christiansted Bypass and reflected on the long road to reach this new, long road.
The road took "37 years and $37 million," said Public Works Commissioner Darryl Smalls at the ceremony held under a tent at the bypass’s small overlook, with Christiansted harbor and Gallows Bay spread out for viewing below.
The project, proposed in 1972 and in the planning stages since 1975, is aimed at relieving traffic congestion, improving safety and restricting large vehicles through the downtown Christiansted area. The 1.2 mile parkway running from Contentment Road east to end at the East End Road and Mt. Welcome Road "is the largest completed public works project in the Virgin Islands," Smalls said.
The bypass has two 12-foot lanes, paved shoulders and a climbing lane on the east end. There are sidewalks and curbs along the north side, as well as streetlights and traffic signals.
Workers broke ground on the bypass in May 2007, shortly after Gov. John deJongh Jr. – and Smalls – took office. At the time, Smalls testified to the V.I. Legislature: “The first phase is to be complete in 2009. Then it will be another two years at least for the remainder."
Five years later, Smalls said the work went pretty much according to schedule and close to its original cost projections, despite some unforeseen delays from difficulties such as a rock slide in 2008. (See related links below)
"It is truly with a great deal of pride that I stand before you today to witness the official opening of the Christiansted Bypass," Smalls said Thursday. "Please do enjoy the breathtaking view of downtown Christiansted and the Christiansted harbor, utilize the sidewalks along the roadway for physical fitness. But more importantly, let’s all take pride in this new roadway for both our residents and tourists to admire," he said.
Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis said the roadway provides greater and easier access to the eastern end of the island and eases traffic congestion in downtown Christiansted.
Recalling the controversy and heated debates that took place in town hall meetings before work began, Francis said now the road is completed, it has been getting rave reviews.
"In the days since it has opened for use, I have heard only positive things from the people who have traveled the full roadway. And those who used to go to Renaissance to exercise, they are coming here now," Francis said.
"We can also appreciate that the bypass offers an end to a negative impact caused by having large vehicles and heavy equipment driving through our town and affecting our historic buildings. The road to progress is not always an easy one and the road to this bypass has certainly not been easy," he said.
DeJongh credited the governors who preceded him for laying the groundwork. He said this shows that the ideas and “the dreams that we have transcend any one governor, transcend any one administration."
DeJongh said the bypass started with Gov. Melvin Evans and went through five more administrations before his own. "And today we sit here on a project that clearly had momentum, had disagreement, that had in many cases controversy. Clearly we understand that commitment is what really makes projects that are necessary come to fruition.”
“And it is no one governor or no one person that does it but it is a continuation of a vision with people that are behind you," deJongh said.
The final tally for the project comes to about $37.2 million – entirely paid for by federal funds.
Carlos Machado, the assistant division administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, helped shepherd the federal funding for the project. Machado was there at the 2007 groundbreaking and he returned for Thursday’s ceremony, giving a few brief words.
The project was done in four phases with four separate, consecutive contracts. The last phase – putting in sidewalks, electrical conduits, guardrails, and handrails and connecting the bypass to the existing roads – is complete now.
V.I. Paving won the first and fourth contract. The first was initially bid at $6.4 million for excavation, grading and installing drainage and embankment from the western limit to King Cross Street. The final cost included extra work and came to $7.1 million.
Contract two was awarded in 2007 to Kirkland Construction for a bid of $12.5 million for excavating, grading, installing drainage and embankments, and ultimately grew to a total of $17.3 million, as the scope of work increased, according to information provided by Government House at the ceremony.
The third contract went to Better Roads in September of 2009 for $6.1 million to put in sidewalks, curbs and gutters, electrical conduits, street lights and paving, and ultimately cost $6.5 million.
Finally V.I. Paving got a $5.9 million contract for final "punch list" items and work, which is essentially done, and ultimately increased to $6.4 million.
