Mapp said $530 million approved for first phase of Virgin Islands road reconstruction

Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp said on April 24, 2018, that the U.S. Virgin Islands planned to rebuild its primary roads to U.S. Department of Transportation federal highway standards after an assessment estimated it would cost $1.2 billion to bring the territory's 1,273-mile public road system up to those standards.

According to Mapp, the assessment was conducted after the 2017 storms by the Department of Public Works with assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Witt O'Brien's.

Mapp said $530 million had been approved for the first phase of road construction across St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island. That total included $100 million previously pledged for GARVEE road projects, along with $80 million from FEMA's Public Assistance Program, $100 million from the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, $40 million from the Federal Highway Emergency Road Repair Program, $205 million in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funding, and $5 million from the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Public Works Commissioner Nelson Petty said the Main Street Enhancement Project was scheduled for completion by April 2019, the Turpentine Run Bridge was 75% complete, and reconstruction of sections of the Melvin Evans Highway had received notices to proceed while other sections were awaiting Federal Highway concurrence. He also said work had begun in Estate Catherine's Rest, Scenic Drive, Clifton Hill and Estate La Grande Princess on St. Croix.

Mapp said some roads would receive temporary repairs or asphalt overlays until full reconstruction could begin. He also said the work would require additional engineers and project managers at the Department of Public Works.

The administration said $10 million in CDBG funding would be set aside to remove roadside dumpsters and build refuse centers.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/territorys-road-system-to-be-fully-modernized-530-million-allocated-to-first-phase/