It is often referred to as the A1 Road Project, the resurfacing and rebuilding of the main road between Salem and St. John’s. It will involve the reconstruction and enhancing of bridges all along the way.
The first major bridge project has been ongoing at Cassava Ghaut in Woodlands, where Montserrat’s first ever traffic light had been installed to facilitate the traffic.
The work has been progressing steadily, but every person who we spoke to had almost the same comment. “They seem not to know what they are doing.” However one of the senior workers on the site said, “…everything that is being done here is according to plan but it is taking time.”
The bridge construction began in early October.
The road project has been the subject of much discussion and has been delayed or affected by the trucking involved with the sand-mining, which according to H.E. Governor Davis, it has been suggested should be referred to as ‘aggregate mining’.
Legislation has been enacted to force a limit on the weight the trucks can haul on the roads, supposedly clearing the way for the resurfacing to begin. This however Public Works officials have said will not begin until the new year.
Meanwhile, another part of the project which has also been progressing even more steadily is the widening and preparations of the stretch from Cudjoe Head down towards Brades. The workers have now past the Red Cross building and are just opposite Tina’s restaurant.