Minister for Public Works and Ports, Miriam Blanchard has announced that a project to rehabilitate the Loubiere to Bagatelle will cost in excess of $100-million.
Speaking at a town hall meeting in Pichelin on Thursday night said funds for the project will come from a grant from the British Government. She did not say when the project will begin.
“That project is going to cost in excess of £30-million, this is over EC$100-million,” she said.
She stated the project is going to span from the Loubiere-Grand Bay junction all the way to Bagatelle.
“So it’s going to touch all of our communities from Bellevue Chopin, to Pichelin, to Grandbay, to Fond St Jean and to Bagatelle as well,” Blanchard stated.
She noted that the project will include, “the construction of between 12 and 14 large culvert crossings and three new bridge structures: at Geneva, Pichelin and Mitchum.
“We have all experience Tropical Storm Erika, we’ve all seen the pictures of the devastation from Tropical Storm Erika, we all know the experiences that led from a lot of rain in a short space of time and the size of the current culverts we have in Dominica,” he remarked. “That volume of water was just too much to be accommodated by the culvert structure that we had in the past…”
The project will also address road edge failure, Blanchard noted.
Blanchard pointed out that the government understands the residents’ vulnerabilities, “and I am saying to you tonight, your new major development project that will transform your section of the island is going to address these vulnerabilities.”
She said one of the ways the government is going to do so is to build back better than it did before.
“Build a resilient infrastructure that will cater to the circumstances that we have experienced in the past, to better enable us to deal with any other eventualities moving into the future,” she noted.
Why, that road was recently resurfaced. It only needs a few bridges done/redone and some touching up. Roseau proper and bottle-necks from Mahaut to Loubriere could probably benefit even more. Unless it’s something I’m missing, please enlighten me.
It is financed with a grant from the British Government, so it will not cost us anyhting. That money can not be used for any other purpose and is intended specifically for upgrading this road, so why not accept it? We are often denigrating in our attitude to our old colonial masters but I have no problem in saying thank you Gt. Britain in this case
Read my comment again, I asked to be enlightened. If your info is credible thanks for that. I am in no way denigrating as I question things that I do not understand although I am a champion for reparations from Britain in all forms. I too think they should keep the funds coming, especially for education.
Should I comment on this ? Let me ask a question how many times has this road been refurbished?
wow
But wait nuh … some time ago CO Williams Construction did the road from Loubiere; now that same road again?
Who the heck you all sa kway voleur think all you fooling?
In the name of Jesus Christ all of all you will continue to day parlay!!!
The same road we paid c.o. williams millions of dollars not to long ago to resurface a road public works could do.
This is true. I believe it was in 2010 when CO Williams of Barbados did that. I believe it was resurfacing only though and since then a lot that road has been damaged by floods, specially after Erica. It really needs reconstructing, widening with new bridges and so on especially near Pichelin and from there on all the way to Bagatelle. I think it is a good thing, especially since it is not costing us but comes from a a grant from Gt. Britain.
The minister shouldn’t have any problem keeping her word after all her Boss is dishing out lots of CBI money so get to work but giving the cash is different than promising they will get , these ministers are dishonest and should be locked up.
What about the mentainance of the road to Petite Savanne where people still live and produce Bay Oil in which the British have a very special interest?
It is great that the government of Dominica under the leadership of Roosevelt Skeritt has realized that the Grand Bay road needs to be rehabilitated. The Grand Bay road as many people know is very treacherous. I am from Grand Bay and I have traveled on this road for many years going to school in Roseau. As noted earlier I am all for rehabilitating the Grand Bay road but I am opposed to the idea of spending in excess of a 100 million dollars for that purpose. 100 million dollars is a lot of money. The government should spend that money on a new road that is not vulnerable to landslides and precipices ( deep valleys ). A new road can be built traversing Macaton or Morpo to Bellevue on to above Mas Edward to Loubiere. I think tjat would be more practical.
I would be very interested to see that road from Tete Morne to Souffriere constructed that Pierro promised us before he left us too soon. That would really revitalize that part of the country, especially with the new Jungle Bay develpoment and the one at Bois Cotelet.
Very difficult terrain that doesn’t solve the cliff problem that plague Dominica on a whole. Getting TO Tetrmorne from Lalay is a big deal. There is better access for travel to Soufriere from here through Dalfoncie to Petit Coulibrie. There is already motor-able road from the Petit Coulibrie estate to Soufriere.
CBI ?
lol
it have 3 majob bridges along the west coast that needs febuilding as well as a bridge to delices but you spending money on a recently repaved road that not as important as the 4 bridges?
How dumb can we be? They cant use the money to create industry and employment – this is money laundering
You all should read that article properly. The money is coming from England and is for them tom decide what we spend it on. The Chinese are taking care of the west coast, ask Roosevelt Skerrit.
Is not that same road we paid C.O.Williams millions of dollars not to long ago to resurface when Public Works could do it for much less, I guess they giving it to foreigners again.
Promises by government officials are raining cats and dogs. Almost everyday you hear of new ones. So much so, that it’s difficult to keep track. Don’t only tell me about these grandiose projects, show me concrete evidence (signed contracts, time and date, etc.). Why do I ask for concrete evidence? Because politicians can’t resist the temptation of making promises that they fully well know they can’t keep. They would promise you to build a bridge where there’s no river or ravine. They tend to talk forgetting to connect the tongue to the brain. All I’m saying, give us some concrete proof with the promises. Empty promises are on longer accepted.
This is a great endeavor, hopefully these roads will be wider was well.
I could have sworn, C O Williams off Bullbadoz just did the road network from the Loubiere Junction to Grandbay the full road network, just recently
Skerrit know they coming for the millions so he spending it.
Better bridges and larger culverts: yes. However, it’s not just a matter of building better but having a better understanding of the nature of our land.
Regardless of “predicted” climate change, Dominica has always had heavy rainfall. Most of the devastation related to Tropical Storm Erica was a result of misguided land use. Petite Savane, Melville Hall and Check Hall (with origins at Antrim) are cases in point.
Yes, someone gets it! But you know, its not just the fault of the gov. I’d put even more blame on the funding agencies who push these projects through without proper due diligence for environmental conditions.
The generations before us built two lane roads over 70 years ago, today the great negotiator said he built a highway from Roseau to portsmouth and we still have to pass inside mahaut and massacre. then put a highway tax on us, knowing fully well that there is no highway in Dominica. Dominicans please do a little travelling, because they would not be able to fool you anymore.
Yes, make a bypass at Mahaut please and remove that property just before the bridge at Massacre. That is such a dangerous blind bottleneck. Break it down and give the people living there a better place to live. I don’t know how anyone could sleep there anyway, so close to that traffic and the front door right there on the highway.
I guess Lennox force them to finally listen to Athie!!!!
wait! its not from cbi? i’m SHOCKED!!!
so you mean to tell me just a few years ago the Bajan company allegedly owned by one of their operatives was paid millions to do a cocomagi on that same road today we being fooled about 100 million dollar road?
blanchard you can jump, you can leap, you can fly you nor jeffery baptiste can NEVER win roseau North!!!
Want to know what gòing
to happen with Cochrane road. Maybe when Rabbit fest coming up we will get our usual patch up?! 
Elections coming, nuh? lots of talk and dishing of money since the CBS story on Dominica’s sale of passports
why spend all of Dominica’s share of the UK’s 300 million pound sterling on one road when there other compelling infrastructural demands elsewhere on island? split the money between the south and the eastern sections of the island.
goodies, goodies
This is not a priority. Who advising that dounce government ? What about the new Goodwill Secondary School ? Mahaut and Newtown ByeeeePass , synthetic athletic track for athletes , development of the playground at Geneva, help to cottage industries , New Grand Bay Primary school , Housing for Newtown ?
PM only excuse for this expenditure is only IFFFFFFFF THE UK GOVERNMENT SAID THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THE CASH GRANT IS TO BE USED.
This lady is on” Fire”,! Red Hot, and learning quickly, Laba ka twavie, Government by the people, for the people, of the people. Make Dominica Great Again. ### one love!
Oh please!
EC$100 000 000 grant you say?!
GRANT?
So Skerrit lied about scarcity of grant funding from friendly governments!
You sound like estimates and/ or tenders have been sent out.
I never expected to see you soil your professional integrity publicly. You join de lineup to dat movie at a bad time. It’s not like you came to the people for a vote.
You never gave de impression you’re a clown but dat is one hell of a rabbit you pull out of De DIP bag!!!
Since it is British money paying for this I hope they can bring in a British company, like we had under Eugenia Charles, to rehabilitate this road. I believe they were called Russ & Tomkins , or something like that. They did such an excellent job and it would be a pity to see British money going to someone like Gaddarkhan.
Dominica should have some paparazzi news reporters asking question on the go? Good initiative. Employ yourself.
Dominica need a lot when it come to roads. We need new roads. The society is changing everyone has their own cars. We need roads for that. Is Public Roads getting a contract? PM send some money their way.
But with all that money spending all over the civil servant cannot get something. They really need to strike like A Charles Savarin Strike. Close down the place for forty days like a fasting. It is the truth Secretary Savarin who is now president did that. He is the president as him question it.
Almost every village road in DA needs repair and rehabilitation. Look at Eggleston/Giraudel Road, Castle comfort/Beau Bois/Gommier road, Wotten Waven, etc., just to many a few. All these millions coming out, all of a sudden, how is it allocated?
But where all them money coming out all of a sudden???????????????????????????
Is she real look like a doll what’s in that mouth?
Great job , let us keep our fingers cross , and hope for the best.
With all the grants,loans,BAM measures,the millions from BIM,we should indeed be The Island of SPLENDOUR.
INSTEAD WE ARE THE ISLAND OF SLEEZE
Ok then
Let me guess…CBI ?
stupes
But just the other day they spent millions on that grandbay road. Wasteful spending.
Massive project, good good news!
The government is working! Who vex sousay sel! #SkerritMustStay
What about Castle Comfort and Wallhouse?
What about it??
Finally a likely bogus project that is not funded by CBI. So having broadcasted it can you tell us when is it expected to start because you all are on your way out anyway. All of a sudden MERCURY have you all bamboozling people. But too many unfinished stuff in Dca so please do us a favor and vacate office before its too late
Assertive like the rod of Moses!
Great.. Hope one day soon we hear the same for high traffic areas like Newtown, Mahaut and Massacre
Roseau badly need a by-pass, along the east perimeter, avoiding not only Citronier and Newtown butt the centre of Roseau altogether to facilitate through-traffic. from south to north and v.v.
Giraudel, Eggleston ….
Amen to that. Primitive roads and sidewalks in Roseau.