Mapp Signs Off On Nine More Road Projects; ‘Bridge To Somewhere’ Finally Opens

Governor Kenneth Mapp has approved nine more contracts for the repair and improvement of St. Croix’s roads, Government House has announced.

In April, the governor announced that all of the territory’s primary roads would be entirely rebuilt to U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway standards. In addition to this undertaking, the administration is restoring some of the more damaged roads that require immediate repair, and working to complete longstanding abandoned initiatives such as the waterfront expansion and the Turpentine Run projects on St. Thomas, Government House said.

Governor Mapp was in Estate Nadir on Monday to traverse the “Bridge to Somewhere” as it was opened to traffic for the first time after being constructed more than two decades ago. The project was designed to help mitigate flooding issues in the area.

The Department of Public Works reported last month that 940 miles of Virgin Islands roadway have thus far been identified to be rebuilt to Federal Highway standards. The new roads will be upgraded with proper foundations, drainage and outfitted with American with Disabilities Act compliant sidewalks, reflectors, traffic signals, and crosswalks. They will also accommodate water, sewage, power lines and fiber optic cables.

According to Government House, in addition to reconstructing the road systems, funds will be set aside to remove dumpsters from the roadsides. In their place, refuse and recycling centers will be constructed throughout the territory. Some roads will receive temporary fixes until they can be fully reconstructed, Government House said. More than $530 million has already been identified for the first phase of overhauling the majority of the territory’s roads.

St. Croix road projects approved on Friday include:

• Route 68 at Peter’s Rest – Schuster Water Services to the Cool Out Bar.
• Estate Humbug, Christiansted.
• Estate Tipperary Residential Roads, East End.
• Grove Place, Frederiksted.
• Anna’s Hope, Christiansted.
• Route 633, near Central High School.
• Sierra Verde, East End.
• Route 81, Sion Valley Road Pavement Rehabilitation and Drainage Improvements