The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE completion date for the New Providence Infrastruture Improvement Project has been pushed back once again, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works Phillp Brave Davis said yesterday.

Last week, Mr Davis said the NPIIP would be completed by October 31. However, while making his contribution in the House of Assembly yesterday, he said the road works will continue into 2013.

Mr Davis said keeping the roads open for elections and extensive underground work have caused major delays.

“Members opposite will recall instructions to the contractor to delay scheduled works on Wulff Road and Village Road or Corridor 16 from March 31 to May 14, causing a delay of some six weeks.

Further, the contractor was instructed to ensure that all roads were open to vehicular usage for two weeks prior to the elections and one week after. These instructions, understandably, negatively impacted planned completion at the end of October,” he said.

“Some of these roads will still need a final coat of asphalt, but this final layer of paving will require short closures of not more than two days at any one time, and where possible of one side at a time permitting continued use. Kerbing, landscaping and other related contracted works will continue beyond November onto early 2013.”

Mr Davis said after the roads are completed the contractor will remain in New Providence for a year following the turnover of the roads to the government to deal with any defect or problems which develop.

To date, according to Mr Davis, 90 per cent of the contract works are completed, approximately 7.6 miles of the contracted 15.7 miles of road have been completed and 6.2 miles of the road have been paved with the first layer of asphalt.

The water main installation component of the project is over 98 per cent complete with small sections remaining to be completed on Prince Charles Drive and Wulf Road.

Mr Davis also said that the road works will impact school opening in Septemeber but only a “small section” of the public will be affected.

“A small section os Robinson Road/Prince Charles Drive at the southern part of Old Trail Intersection will be closed for paving. However, traffic in the East-West orientation will be maintained in both directions along Robinson Road Prince Charles Drive from Baillou Hill Road to Fox Hill Drive after school opening in Septemeber,” he said.

“In short when schools reopen in September 2012 it is anticipated to experience major challenges only at the Village Road road about, on Bernard and Village Road and at the south side of Old Trail Intersection where underground construction work will continue with traffic management in place.”

The projected total cost of the project is now estimated at $206 million. The Inter American Development Bank (IDB) has provided $129 million under two loans leaving a funding gap of $77 million.

The government is now in the process of seeking another loan from the IDB in the amount of $65 million with a balance of $12 million to be funded by the government.

Mr Davis said the gap in funding is largely related to fuel escalation costs, variations related to unforeseen works, re-measurement of quantities, water and sewerage work, prolongation and changes in legislation.