Government has officially put flyovers back on the national agenda, reviving a previously dismissed plan to ease chronic traffic congestion across the island.
Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn, in delivering the national Budget on Monday, revealed that discussions had restarted with the company initially hired before the 2008 general election to design and construct overpasses along the ABC Highway.
“Last Thursday, the Cabinet of Barbados agreed to re-engage the original company, who has already done all of the design work on the path forward for the construction of overpasses,” Straughn said.
The decision marks a significant shift back to a project first initiated under former Prime Minister Owen Arthur in 2006, which was later halted following a change of government in 2008.
Straughn criticised that decision, noting that more than $20 million was paid in damages after the contractors were dismissed, while no alternative traffic solution was implemented.
“Some might view this as good politics, but Bajans have paid a heavy price for it… and today, no alternative solution was put in place. The traffic… is choking us everywhere we turn,” he maintained.
In addition to reviving the flyover project, government will begin planning to widen key sections of the ABC Highway, including Highway 2A, as part of a broader strategy to improve traffic flow.
The minister pointed out that the island’s main highway network had long suffered from inconsistent planning, dating back to its original construction.
He recalled that under former Prime Minister Tom Adams, the ABC Highway was conceptualized in the 1980s as a four-lane corridor linking the airport to the seaport and bypassing Bridgetown. However, changes in government resulted in sections being built with only two lanes when completed in 1989.
“Poor decision making and lack of foresight continues to cost our citizens dearly,” Straughn said.
He added that if the original highway specifications and later expansion plans had been followed, Barbados “would be having a different conversation” today, without the need to undertake costly upgrades decades later.
Government will also launch a national consultation on traffic congestion, beginning next week, to gather public input on solutions.
The series of town hall meetings will start on March 23 at Deighton Griffith Secondary School in Christ Church, followed by sessions on March 25 at Princess Margaret Secondary School in St Philip, March 30 at The St Michael School, and April 1 at Alexandra School in St Peter. All meetings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and members of the public are invited to attend.
Straughn said the consultations will help shape a comprehensive approach to addressing congestion, which has worsened significantly in recent years.
“It is my hope that Barbadians will take note and realize that one party has always been planning ahead,” he said, referencing the Barbados Labour Party and its legacy of infrastructure planning.
The minister also warned that delays in implementing major infrastructure projects have resulted in significantly higher costs today compared with earlier decades.
“Don’t forget the significant increase in associated cost of executing those works in today’s money compared to previous periods,” said Straughn.
“I really hope we will solve the problem this time, so someone else in 20 years’ time would not be here to make the same point.” (TD)
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