EDITORIAL - Road maintenance still a priority

Over the last few weeks there has been much talk about the poor state of the nation’s roads and there have been repeated calls for the Ministry of Transport and Works to do something about the matter as soon as possible. These calls increased particularly after the heavy rains at the end of November and early December, and continued well into last month, and now as we have entered the new year, it seems that the calls have intensified.

 

Indeed, individuals have utilised social media and traditional media to express their concerns, bringing much needed attention to the situation with the potholes, and it is hoped that in the coming weeks any efforts made by the Ministry will get a better handle on the situation, so that we do not have a repeat of these set of circumstances again anytime soon. For those who would want to suggest that all is lost, we say no, that is not our belief and we trust that the Ministry can get ahead of the situation and ensure that improvements are made.

 

We have seen the good work that was accomplished in Waterford Bottom, St. Michael, were motorists had felt almost as if they were on a roller coaster as they navigated the stretch of road between the Waterford roundabout and the junction to go across to Combermere School, and we strongly believe that the same can be accomplished in other parts of the island. 

 

The upkeep of roads has been a major issue that successive governments have had to deal with, and while we acknowledge that the country is experiencing tough economic times that may make it an even more difficult job to manage now, it is not a matter that we can afford to ignore, as there can be no denying that poor roads can pose a danger to motorists and even pedestrians.

 

In that vein, we ask that special attention be paid to rural Barbados. Quite often work is concentrated on the urban areas, which are more frequented, but it is important that the officials at the Ministry remember that in their efforts to patch potholes and carry out their mill and pave programme to rehabilitate roads, that they remember that rural Barbados is desperately in need of repair as well. Market Hill and Ellerton in St. George, Todds, St. John as well as Turners Hall, St. Andrew are just a few that should be on the receiving end of rehabilitative work.

 

On any one of those roads one can find varying sizes of potholes, and much like the situation that existed in Waterford Bottom, there are dips and rough sections in the road which cause persons who traverse them to exhibit extra care. In fact, on any given day motorists must try their best to avoid these dangers, dangers that can cause irreparable damage their vehicles or tyres, or even cause them to get involved in a collision, trying to avoid them.

 

We believe also that as the year progresses, the authorities, if they have not already done so, should carry out a needs assessment of the road network to determine the requirements and resources available to properly maintain and build the required highways and byways on this island.

 

It is also hoped that Government will also find a solution for the road challenges at White Hill, St. Andrew, where the residents have been crying out for a permanent fix to alleviate their plight. We acknowledge that such work will not be easy given that the area falls within the unstable Scotland District which is prone to land slippage, but we cannot ignore that the situation is one that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.