BASSETERRE St. Kitts - CONCERNS have been raised by a local businessman that his enterprise is being and can continue to be affected by ongoing road work in vicinity of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) roundabout.
More than one week ago, construction crews began doing work along the Frigate Bay Road as part of the roundabout project. The current work - SKNVibes understands - includes the use of a heavy-duty compactor and other industrial equipment.
Sylvester Fraser - proprietor of F & H Frisco Ltd - while speaking with SKNVibes Business - explained that his service station began experiencing difficulty after a section of the double-laned road was converted to a single-laned road earlier this week to allow for the construction process to take place.
Fraser - directly in front of whose business the road work is taking place - explained that not only was he not made aware of the change prior to it taking place but his business has already begun feeling the effects of said change.
“Well now that it is reduced to a single lane which goes up the road and there is not traffic coming down from Frigate Bay, Bird Rock and there is no traffic coming here out of the roundabout. I was shocked when I heard it on the news on Monday that the road was going to be blocked and I tried to make some inquiries and eventually I found out on Monday afternoon that certain officials did not know about it.”
He recounted that on Monday the new Director of Public Works approached him and give him a formal apology for the way the authorities communicated the changes with him. Fraser opined that there are better ways of disseminating information about such changes.
“The New Acting Director of Public Works came on Monday after he heard the news item and apologised for what happen and said he would do everything within his powers not to close the station, the station has been here for over 25 years and it’s like a land mark.”
He explained that he is in the process of quantifying the losses which the business has sustained thus far as a result of the changes.
In addition, the entrepreneur indicated that according to unofficial information he received, when the entire construction process is completed, motorists travelling from Basseterre might not be able to turn right into his service centre. But rather, he continued, these individuals would be required to drive around the roundabout and return to and turning left into the establishment.
Fraser said he understands that the work must be done but expressed concern about what would happen if the unofficial information he received is the actual plan “I understand that work has to be done but what is my main concern now is the fact that your saying when the traffic is coming up the road like that you can’t turn into the gas station… if you want some gas you are going to go right around the roundabout and come here now after the road is finished. Currently we have traffic coming from Basseterre but none from the roundabout.”
Another area of concern Fraser expressed about the current road work is intense vibrations caused by the heavy equipment which he says is creating cracks in the walls of his business.
SKNVibes made contact with Director of Public Works Cromwell Williams who explained that according to his understanding and according to the plans, “vehicles coming from Basseterre would be able to turn right into the gas station. I back checked the plans and vehicles would be able to turn right into the gas station after the roundabout is completed.
“We were having meetings with persons/businesses around the area regularly. And I am sure that my predecessor has kept them apprised of what is happening...”
The road project is expected to be completed shortly.
