~~Adz:Left~~Basseterre, St. Kitts (October 17, 2006): An effective consultative process was one of the key phrases used to describe the procedure leading up to the construction of the new West Basseterre Bypass Road.
A brief contract signing and ground breaking ceremony was held October 17, 2006, symbolically representing the commencement of the road which will cost just over $18 million.
Consultant of Halcrow Group Limited Mr. Mandish Singh, whose company was responsible for the final design of the project, said that the new West Basseterre Bypass Road will be "approximately four kilometres long and goes from the Camps area, west of Basseterre, right through to the Airport Round-About."
He said, "It approximately follows the alignment of the railway line, hugging closely the route of the railway line to the north of it and south of the airport."
Mr. Singh said that there are four bridge structures " two cross the College and Westbourne Ghauts, one crosses the railway siding close to the Airport Round-About and there is an underpass at the Camps area which takes the road under the railway line.
~~Adz:Right~~ "It will be an asphalted concrete road with shoulders and set-backs," Singh said. "To ensure that if in the future the road is to be widened to accommodate additional traffic we have the room already air-marked, so we don't go into the process of land acquisition etc. which is a delayed process."
The concept for the design of the new road was not random nor created in a vacuum. According to Acting Director of Public Works, Mr. Delon James it was a consultative process.
He said discussions were held with people concerned with road building and those affected by it as well as formal consultations were held during which opinions on the proposed plans were sought.
"By critically reviewing our road infrastructure and the manner in which road traffic safety is managed, a stronger approach was needed to drastically reduce road accidents and improve discipline on the road," Mr. James said.
"An approach that included traffic safety, traffic discipline and the protection of the road infrastructure and environment. Through this consultative process between the government authorities, consultants as well as private stakeholders, an integrative approach was utilized to promote road traffic quality and safety."
~~Adz:Left~~Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works, Utilities, Transport and Posts Mr. Oakland Peets shed more light on the consultative process.
"Over the last few years, the government has undertaken a number of national projects and each time those projects are undertaken, they are often undertaken in consultation with the citizens, particularly of the communities where the project would have greatest impact," Mr. Peets said.
"This project in like manner, is a project of national thrust and national development and it has been undertaken in consultation with those who are affected without whose cooperation we would never have had this ceremony."
Mr. Peets did not let the opportunity pass to address the contribution of his Ministry to national development. "The projects undertaken by the Ministry are always of the scope and magnitude to influence the growth and development of every single one of us, our geographic localities, our homes and our institutions," Permanent Secretary Peets said.
~~Adz:Right~~ "We ought to demonstrate our gratitude by maximizing every opportunity we have to our best advantage, while at the same time thinking about our own sustainability."
