The improvement of roads in Anguilla has always been of interest for local Ministers of Infrastructure — as much as it has been of interest to the people. Throughout the years, past administrations focused heavily on upgrading the quality of roadways that would serve to benefit the travelling public.
This had been evident in past ministries as far back as those headed by the Honourable Nashville Webster, Kenneth Harrigan, Albert Hughes, Evan Gumbs, and more recently, the ministry of the Honourable Curtis Richardson and currently the Honourable Haydn Hughes. They have played their part to make it more convenient for Anguilla’s road users, as they were diligent in providing the quality of roads that we utilise today.
Now, the Honourable Minister of Tourism and Infrastructure, Mr. Haydn Hughes, has the same impetus to upgrade the Carter Rey Boulevard, commonly known as The Valley Main Road. We can anticipate work to begin on this project shortly. But, he is committed to road improvements in other areas of the island as well.
Mr. Hughes announced at the weekly press conference on Monday, July 5th, that he had identified four roads that met the criteria for redevelopment. “These sections of roads are without any conflicts, and are public roads or public right of ways,” he has said.
Following the press conference, Mr. Hughes spoke with The Anguillian and identified these roads as follows: the stretch of road off the Carter Rey Boulevard (Valley Main Road) leading west to the entrance of Merchants Market; the section of road west of the Adrian T. Hazel Primary School that leads from the South Hill main road towards the south; the road leading from George Hill, pass Branches of Learning, and tied to the Jeremiah Gumbs Highway; and, lastly, the Spring Path Road which was deemed a prime project by the previous administration. Mr. Hughes said: “It is important to know that these roads will be redeveloped using the [marl] material which has been extracted from the airport site at Wall Blake.”
To this end, Mr. Hughes commissioned a survey of the above-mentioned roads by the Department of Lands. Following the conclusion of that survey, the Road Engineers in MICUH&T prepared estimates of cost.
Minister Hughes stated that the funding for these roads was not readily available, but that his ministry was working with the Ministry of Finance to identify the appropriate source of funds.
In other major road news, recently, the Honourable Minister Hughes, along with the roads team in the Ministry of Tourism and Infrastructure, spent about two hours walking through the stretch of road that leads from the roundabout at Wall Blake to the roundabout at the James Ronald Webster’s Park. They were joined by a representative from ANGLEC, the road surveyor, Mr. Cleve Richards, and Mr. Rob Somers, Senior Infrastructure Advisor of Anguilla Programme.
The walk-through was part of the preparation for the commencement of the long-anticipated redevelopment of the Carter Rey Boulevard, set to commence later this month.
– Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan
