Major Upgrades coming for the nation’s roads

By Aabigale McIntosh

Officials from the Ministry of Housing and Works met with the Cabinet last week to look for ways to address the issue.

Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office Lionel Hurst said the roads’ conditions have deteriorated over time due to rainfall and heavy-duty vehicles.

Contractors from the Ministry will lay concrete surfaces daily until all the roads within the communities are completed. Drains and sidewalks will also be added.

A night crew will also be on hand to get the job done.

Additionally, 40 new workers will be hired to assist the ministry. The project could be completed by 2027.

“We think that if we begin in 2024, before 2027, every single road in Antigua and Barbuda, over 400 miles, will be much improved,” Hurst said.

He added that the government will be working to ensure increased communication between the Public Works Ministry and the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA). 

He also explained that some projects have stalled.

“If UAE makes it clear that after they have dug a hole to plant pipes, it takes a while for settling to occur, and therefore, sometimes they are unable to restore the service almost immediately.