New Road Pilot Program To Be Tested On Burning Flames Highway

The Burning Flames Highway, formerly the Potters Main Road will be part of a road works project in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and Hermis Corporation in Colombia.

This collaboration came to be after a team from the Ministry of Works visited Colombia to assess which road technologies would be feasible to use in Antigua and Barbuda.

Over the years, the Ministry has observed that traditional methods of road construction have often failed to deliver the desired longevity and quality, resulting in frequent repairs and rising maintenance costs.

In response, the Minister of Public Works Maria Browne and her Executive Team mandated the Engineering Department to explore resilient and affordable alternatives capable of transforming the nation’s road-building practices.

Through this initiative, the Roads Department — in collaboration with Engineer Joseph Prempeh — identified two promising technologies: “SILICONPOX” road stabilization technology, designed to strengthen the base and sub-base of road structures; and Natural Asphalt Cold Mix (“Asfaltita”), a durable, energy-efficient, cold-applied wearing surface developed by Hermis Corporation of Colombia.

“The pilot project will be the Burning Flames Highway, utilizing the Siliconpox road stabilization and natural asphalt cold mix technologies and so they will be mobilizing very shortly, in a matter of two to three weeks, to commence work on the Burning Flames Highway… Minister Marie Browne told the cabinet that the launch of the pilot on the Burning Flames Highway represents a major step towards revolutionizing how the Ministry of Works construct and maintain the country’s roads,” Cabinet Spokesperson Maurice Merchant said.

Siliconpox is categorised as a soil stabiliser — it treats clayey or silty soils and transforms their mechanical and functional properties.

It chemically reacts with the soil structure (via surface tension and macro-structure change) to improve strength, reduce permeability and enhance load bearing capacity. It’s presented as an environmentally friendly option and its main role is producing a stronger and more durable base/subgrade improves the “foundation” for asphalt, thereby increasing the system’s lifespan, reducing maintenance frequency, and improving resilience (especially in weaker soil contexts).

This will significantly lengthen the life of asphalt pavements, and it works out to be cheaper than the traditional method currently being used.