by Tarnia Green
Government Information Service
 Section of the road at Picard being
resurfaced
Work on the Chinese funded West Coast Road Development Project which extends from Roseau to Portsmouth is currently at an advanced stage with asphalting works now taking place in the Picard, Portsmouth area. Three kilometres of work has already been completed.
Chinese Project Manager of the rehabilitation of the Roseau to Portsmouth West Coast Project, Jing Hao, speaking through an interpreter, told GIS news on Thursday that the asphalting of the road in Portsmouth compliments other works now being done on the project.
He said that the construction of a box culvert on approaching Picard was done to reinstate a failed section of that road and significant improvements were done to drainage structures.
“Presently, we have started paving the road at Portsmouth and we are still doing some other works in the Portsmouth areas. This includes the box culvert, just at the entrance of Picard. Based on our designs, it is not actually what we were supposed to have done but based on the requirements of the Government, we have made certain adjustments. That is pretty much what has been done so far in the Portsmouth area.”
Work is also on-going on the Roseau Bridge which extends from Hanover Street to Elliot Avenue. In addition, work is being done under the Canefield cliff where there is a shifting of the existing road further westward towards the existing sea defence wall.
 Chinese Project Manager
of the Roseau to Portsmouth
West Coast Project, Jing Hao
“The work on the Roseau Bridge will be completed in approximately one to one and a half months. We are also working under the Canefield Cliff and at the end of that work we are doing, we would have completed 1.9 kilometres of road. We are in the process of constructing a three-lane road. This will be from P. H. Williams to Woodbridge Bay.”
The Chinese official told GIS news through his interpreter that a decision to construct a road to accommodate three-lane traffic under the Canefield cliff is a very practical move.
“The reason why it is going to be a three-lane road is because as you can see, there is an area that is still not paved. It is the section that is going towards the sea, westwards. Now, based on discussions that we have had with Public Works and the Government, due to the size and width of the road, it is very practical to have a three-lane road.”
Notwithstanding minor impediments, the Chinese construction company is generally pleased with the pace at which the West Coast Road Project is being executed.
The company is grateful to the Government and people of Dominica for the support given thus far in implementing the project.
 Section of the road under the Canefield Cliffs
The road when completed is expected to significantly elevate the standard of Dominica’s road network.
Weather permitting, the company is expecting that the entire West Coast Road Project will be completed by December 2011 or early January 2012.
The one hundred million E.C dollar (XCD$100 000 000.00) West Coast Road Rehabilitation Project is being undertaken by the China Railway 17th Bureau Group Corporation Limited which is a subsidiary company of China Railway.
China Railway comes highly qualified and is reputable for building major highways and roads, bridges, airports and houses.
The company has been rated as the fifth largest construction company in the world. |
