BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE EC$5M tunnel at Timothy Hill, which has been dogged by numerous delays, is scheduled for completion and opening to traffic next Friday with a grand ceremony.
Public Infrastructure Minister Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd told reporters recently that the project is nearing completion and everything should be in place for a smooth opening next week.
“The tunnel is substantially completed and we are hopeful that sometime next week it will be opened.”
He said the paving of all road has been completed and lights would soon be installed to complete the project.
Additionally, it was disclosed that installation of guardrails and other minor works have started so that the project would be completed for the projected time.
According to Project Manager Desmond Lewis, his team is in the process of installing catar reflectors which would assist in illuminating the tunnel night drivers.
“All the work here should be completed within the next two days and if you see...the road is well marked and illuminated.”
The stretch of road was opened last week causing many to be excited, Liburd said, but that was done to facilitate additional work that was needed on the site, because currently it is dangerous to traverse that area.
Questioned on the issues of rate of speed and safety driving through the tunnel, both Lewis and Minister Liburd declared that the former is the responsibility of the Police Force to minimize and safety demarcation and luminous paint are some of the features added as precautionary measures.
“That is for the police to implement the law. We know that there are proper road signs that would be installed just to guide motorists and inform them. We are asking that the motorists comply with the rules so that they can get through safely.”
The adjacent road that was paved for construction of the tunnel would be closed to the public after Friday’s opening, Lewis revealed.
Currently, a number of roadwork and guardrail installation projects are nearing completion Minister Liburd said, pointing to the Frigate Bay Road near to the golf course which is under construction.
That road is scheduled for completion within two weeks.
