ROADS ON THE MEND
A top official at the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) is assuring Barbadians, who are crying out about the potholes on the island’s roads, that the Ministry has taken an aggressive approach to rectify the problem.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Works, Simone Rudder, informed the media yesterday that in recent weeks, workmen have been travelling throughout parishes, repairing roads overtaken by potholes.
She announced that the roads that have been patched will be published in the press on a weekly basis.
Rudder explained that those drivers who have had to replace tyres that have been damaged as a result of the potholes, can submit a claim to the Ministry.
“They will have to attach proof that they have a valid driver’s license, proof that their insurance is valid, and information on where the damage took place. If it was that they have already moved to replace a tyre, [they must provide] the invoice for that.
“They will be contacted by the Ministry’s investigators from the legal unit, and once it is confirmed that the damage was caused by the road condition, then compensation will be given,” she said, adding that the process is done as quickly as possible.
The media was provided with a list of roads patched between October 23 and 27.
Most of the roads patched thus far have been in Christ Church, in areas including: Callenders, Thyme Bottom, Providence, Pilgrim Road, Airport roundabout, Fair Valley, Hopewell, St. Christopher, Balls Road, Thornbury Hill, Wilcox Hill, Highway 7, Bay Street, Cane Vale, Maxwell Hill, Kendal Hill, Vauxhall, Sargeants Village, Enterprise Road, Sayers Court, Seaview Road, Pegwell Boggs, Keizer Hill, Oistins, Newton and Rise N Sun.
The roads patched in areas in St. George include: Lower Estate and Buckley Road.
Gully Road, Ebenezer, Four Roads, Harlington and Foul Bay are the areas worked on in St. Philip.
Roads in Risk Road, Appleby Gardens, Section of Highway 1, Porters Road, Carlton Main Road, Water Hall Road, Cherry Avenue, Sunset Crest, Flamboyant Ave, Cordia Avenue, and Seaview Road, were patched in St. James.
Potholes patched in areas in St Peter includes: Major Walk, Ashton Hall, Charles Duncan O’Neal Highway, Diamond Corner, Boscobel, The Mount #1, Baltic and Date Tree Hill.
Nestfield, Pickerings, Half Acre, Jemmotts, Chance Hall Road-Bishops, Fustic/Crab Hill, and Round Rock, are the areas worked on in St. Lucy.
Holes patched in St. Michael included areas in: Green Hill, White Hill, Gittens Road, Entrance to River Terminal, Welches, My Lord’s Hill, Princess Alice Bus Stand, Broad Street, River Road, Mayers Road, Deans Land, Well Gap, Bank Hall Main Road, Parkinson Field, Villa Road, Upton, Regent Hill, Lower Collymore Rock, Wildey Main Road, Pine Plantation Road, Stadium Road, Central Police Station, and Treasury Building.
Potholes on the Ermie Bourne Highway were patched in St. Andrew. Areas worked on in St. John included: Todds Road, Guinea, Cherry Grove, Edgecliff, Colleton, Massiah Street, Coach Hill, and Four Roads to Todds.
Potholes on Haggats Main Road, and Coggins Hill, St. Joseph, were patched. The areas touched in St. Thomas included: Cane Garden, Bridgefield, Padmore Village, Melrose, Spring Farm, Airy Cot, Shop Hill, Vaucluse and Highland. (AH)