Minister of Infrastructure Stephenson King, Monday, addressed the ongoing road construction along Chausse Road, emphasising that this massive project, which has sparked widespread public concern, is critical to network operations.
Minister King indicated that the project has been ongoing for about a year and has brought significant problems. He stated that Chaussee Road in Castries is densely packed with utilities like as water lines of various kinds, sewer lines, telecommunications infrastructure, and LUCLEC power lines, all of which hinder restoration work.
King explained that the major goal is to successfully restore the road. He emphasised the importance of resolving long-standing challenges to support these operations, particularly those involving frequent leaks and ruptures in older pipelines.
This has resulted in an increase in prices of around $2.6 million, which is required to replace the lines. The goal is clear: once this facility is done, WASCO should be able to use it without hindrance for around 15 years.
“So, there’s a lot of activity taking place there,” he told reporters during a media briefing on Monday.
He emphasised that the contractor is committed to working both day and night shifts, cooperating with WASCO to ensure the highest level of workmanship.
“The operations on Chaussee Road are extensive,” he stated. “To effectively work on this road, we either have to disrupt daytime traffic significantly or execute work at night to optimise results.”
The contractor must guarantee that there are no problems with the LUCLEC wires that could harm the other subsurface services.
Chaussee Road has 96 manholes, with 68 being old and 28 being newly erected. All manholes must be rebuilt or altered to precisely match the new pavement level.
Minister King said that current work includes pavement repairs, land reclamation and the construction of the road base, all of which are critical for monitoring road stability and resolving any vulnerabilities that may occur. Pressure testing is actively carried out to ensure that the new lines can bear the expected pressures.
Minister King stated that, in addition to managing underlying utilities, seawater and potable hydrants are strategically placed for fire emergencies.
Work units are currently conducting pressure tests from Micoud Street to Jeremie Street and will soon complete the final connection from Jeremie Street to Calvary Road.
“Once these tasks are completed, the final road layer will be installed, and we anticipate the completion of the project in the coming weeks,” the minister stated.
Minister King did, however, accept that the crew’s effectiveness had been impeded by unfavourable weather circumstances. He issued a firm apology to the people for the inconvenience, acknowledging that Chausse Road is a critical motorway.
“We fully understand the concerns, and we are committed to restoring normalcy as quickly as possible,” he told reporters.