SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI- Deputy Premier and Third District Representative, Hon Julian Fraser RA on Friday, December 20, 2024, provided his constituents with key updates on flood mitigation efforts via a social media post, where he addressed ongoing works to alleviate flooding in the district, highlighting the use of modern infrastructure to tackle long-standing challenges.
Hon Fraser explained that the existing culverts beneath the roads were inadequate, causing blockages that exacerbated flooding during heavy rainfall.
“Previously, there were culverts under the road. Those culverts were somewhere in the neighbourhood of 24 inches maximum in diameter; The reason for that is that the utility companies bury their cables about 42 inches below the surface of the road. In order to get a culvert in, you couldn’t get anything more than, if you’re lucky, 24 inches. Some were even less—18 inches,” he said.
As such, Hon Fraser proposed that the new solution involved the installation of box culverts, which are more effective in preventing blockages and easier to maintain.
“Before, they were getting blocked, and you couldn’t get them cleaned. Now, they can actually be cleaned,” he explained.
Hon Fraser understands the public’s curiosity
Acknowledging that the new culverts appear elevated, he reassured residents that the issue would be rectified once road resurfacing is completed iterating, “It may seem as if they’re kind of high, but that will be taken care of when the road is asphalted. Remember, we scraped the asphalt off the road, and we have to go back and resurface it. So that will be taken care of.”
The Deputy Premier also provided an update on the project’s timeline disclosing, “This one is almost completed. By this afternoon, they should pour the concrete on the area where you see the steelwork and put in the ramp to get it completed.”
He also conveyed an understanding for the curiosity of residents observing the work stating, “Some people are curious; they’re looking to see what’s happening; I don’t blame them. If something is happening, you should know. Because when nothing is happening, they always seem to know, and report on it.”
The project he reiterated is part of ongoing efforts to address infrastructural issues and improve road conditions in the Third District.
Residents will receive further updates as the works advance toward completion.
