The new cargo jetty at Road Bay, Sandy Ground, is progressing well. So far, some three sections – from the shoreline to beyond the t-shaped centre – have already been surfaced by concrete.
Further to the west, and at the head of the pier, an additional set of piles are still being driven into the seabed ostensibly for the roll-on roll-off section.
The jetty, under construction, is located just south of the existing pier. When completed it will have a length of some 187 metres (over 600 feet) – and will be between 10 and 15 metres longer than the existing pier. The contract involves a joint venture agreement between Kelectric & Associates of St. Vincent and Edgehill & Associates of Barbados.
It is being financed by a UK Government grant of some thirteen thousand US dollars. Unlike the other current public sector projects – under the Anguilla Programme – the jetty is being separately financed by the UK Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.
The work and the funding have nothing to do with the proposed upland development which is said to include warehousing and other facilities. So far, the previous Government of the Anguilla United Front acquired several acres of land, and a former villa, as part of the port development area. It is understood that the project’s plans call for further land acquisition, and the possible resettlement of residents elsewhere on the island. However, there is no further word about this matter.
Although Road Bay is officially the main cargo port and port of entry into Anguilla, there are latent plans to create a deep water harbour at Corito – on the south-eastern coast of the island.
Currently, that area serves as an entry and offloading point for the regional oil tankers supplying Anguilla with fuel at the Sol Limited and Delta Petroleum companies’ bulk stations.
