$1.5m contract awarded for Sea Cows Bay roadwork

As crews began work under a record $14 million contract to rehabilitate nine miles of road from Road Town to West End, the government last week announced a separate $1.5 million contract for overlapping roadworks in Sea Cows Bay.

On Jan. 16, the government signed the $1,545,416.29 contract with E&K Trucking & Construction Services for road paving and sidewalk reconstruction along approximately 8,000 linear feet of roadway in the village, according to a press release issued on Jan. 21.

The works are expected to be completed within three months.

The project includes the demolition of the existing concrete and asphalt road surface, excavation works, and the supply and compaction of new sub-base and base materials, the press release stated.

It also involves the reconstruction of sidewalks and the construction of new slipper drains and kerb walls, according to government.

One road, two contracts

Government did not respond to a request for details about how the two projects are connected, but Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer suggested in the press release that the latest contract will fund preparatory works ahead of broader reconstruction along the nine-mile West End-Road Town route.

“After [the Sea Cows Bay] works are completed, based on the nine miles, the road will then be reconstructed with asphalt,” Mr. Rymer said, adding that the works in the village are intended to ensure the road is “properly constructed” and durable over the long term.

Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley described the Sea Cows Bay road as an area of longstanding public concern.

“We have an area that persons have expressed concern about over a number of months, especially since the asphalt was taken off of the road some time ago,” the premier said in the press release. “Some works were done on the road as well, as it pertains to culverts and drainage.”

E&K Trucking director Enos Aaron urged the public to cooperate during construction to allow for smooth traffic flow, noting that signage and traffic-control measures will be put in place. Motorists travelling between Road Town and West End have been advised to expect disruptions as works continue along multiple sections of the corridor in the coming months.

Larger project

This week, government also announced that work had started on the nine-mile project, which is being carried out under a $14,088,620.02 contract awarded in December to Tortola Paving Company Limited.

According to a separate government press release issued Tuesday, initial works under that contract are now under way between Fort Recovery and Cox Heath.

The ongoing works, the release stated, include coastal protection, revetment strengthening, sea defence wall reconstruction and drainage improvements, as well as concrete paving over roughly 4,000 linear feet of roadway.

“Upon completion, the ministry will proceed with additional paving and infrastructure improvements along the remainder of the West End to Road Town route,” the Tuesday press release explained.

“Prioritising the Fort Recovery-to-Cox Heath section allows for expedited delivery of improvements that will provide immediate safety and resilience benefits to the travelling public.”

That $14 million contract — described by the premier in December as the largest road rehabilitation agreement ever awarded by the Virgin Islands government — is being funded through a $100 million loan secured in 2024 from CIBC Caribbean, with $34.8 million earmarked for road infrastructure.

No comment

Despite the overlap in geography and timing, Government Information Services and the Ministry of Finance did not respond to Beacon questions about when the Sea Cows Bay contract was tendered or who else bid; how it fits into the broader $14 million project; or why a separate contractor was engaged for preparatory works along a corridor already slated for rehabilitation.

The government has also left unanswered questions about tendering and bidder details for the $14 million road contract.

The Ministry of Finance has not responded to Beacon queries about how many companies bid on the project or the value of competing offers.