Bahamas Information Services Updates
Eleuthera Road Projects Progressing Well‏
By Kathyrn Campbell, BIS
Jan 18, 2009 - 11:02:26 PM

Cotton Bay Road– The Hon. Neko C. Grant, Minister responsible for Public Works and Transport (centre) inspects road improvements to the Cotton Bay Club road in Eleuthera January 14. He is flanked by Robert Garraway, chief engineer (left) and Colin Higgs, Permanent Secretary. Residents use the road primarily to commute to Weymss Bight. (BIS PHOTO/Letisha Henderson)

Nassau, Bahamas – Public Works and Transport Minister the Hon. Neko Grant said he is pleased with the progress of the road improvement projects taking place on the island of Eleuthera.

Minister Grant, accompanied by Permanent Secretary Colin Higgs and a team of Ministry officials visited Eleuthera January 14 and 15 to inspect ongoing road works and temporary repairs being carried out to the Glass Window Bridge, north of Gregory Town. He and Postmaster General Godfrey Clarke also toured Post Office buildings that fall under his purview.

“I am pleased with the progress of the road repairs in South and Central Eleuthera and the progress of the repairs to the Glass Window Bridge,” said Minister Grant.

Six months ago Minister Grant launched an “infrastructure crusade” for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, and signed five contracts totaling over $13 million for road works in Eleuthera covering 60.3 miles including Current Settlement, Current Island, Harbour Island and Queen’s Highway.

Inspection – Public Works and Transport Minister Neko Grant (centre) expresses his satisfaction with the expansion of Queen’s Highway in The Current, Eleuthera as Permanent Secretary Colin Higgs observes. (BIS PHOTO/Letisha Henderson)

Two contracts were signed for South and Central Eleuthera for $9.1 million covering 47.6 miles. The contract for Central Eleuthera covers 22.5 miles of road works and includes the settlements of Gregory Town, James Cistern, Governor’s Harbour, Palmetto Point and Savannah Sound.

Contracts were also signed for 2.5 miles of road improvements in South Eleuthera to include Rock Sound, Cotton Bay Club Road, Green Castle, Weymss Bight, Bannerman Town, Princess Cay, Cape Eleuthera and Deep Creek.

Among the road projects inspected by Minister Grant during the visit were the Princess Cay access road, Cotton Bay Club road and roads in Savannah Sound, Harbour Island, and Queen’s Highway in The Current.

Current Settlement – The Hon. Neko Grant, Minister of Public Works and Transport (4th from left) discusses the ongoing road works to the Queen’s Highway in The Current, Eleuthera with officials from his Ministry. Also pictured from left to right are: Colin Higgs, permanent secretary; Gordon Major, acting director; Osbourn Weech, justice of the peace and Eleuthera resident, Robert Garraway, chief engineer and Mike Stubbs, contractor. (BIS PHOTO/Letisha Henderson)

“What we viewed today was a result of the contracts signed in August last year. Savannah Sound seems to be almost completed and a considerable amount of work has been done in the Cotton Bay area. The contractors are now physically in Palmetto Point,” said the Minister.

Minister Grant said the paving of the Cotton Bay Club road and the improvements to the roads in Savannah Sound and the Current were carried out to ‘acceptable’ standards. He noted the provisions for the expansion Queen’s Highway road in the Current and termed the work “superior’.

“The residents that I have come in contact with seem very, very pleased with the road works. I am advised by my technical team and contractors that the work is on schedule,” added Minister Grant.

He disclosed that a contract will also be signed to complete road works in North Eleuthera.

“We hope to do that in short order. When that is done we would have committed to investing $18 million which would cover all of the road works on the entire island of Eleuthera,” said the Minister.

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