Prime Minister Philip Davis said last night that the government will start major road works in 2023 as motorists continue to complain about the deplorable state of roads on New Providence.
“The Ministry of Works has just produced a plan for the reconstruction of these roads,” Davis told The Nassau Guardian.
“We will be reviewing it this week and work will start very soon.”
When asked if the public can expect major road works in the new year, the prime minister replied, “Certainly.”
Free National Movement Leader Michael Pintard said last night New Providence, The Bahamas’ economic hub, requires “focused attention that is sorely lacking under this administration that forecasted substantial improvements and expansion of various thoroughfares”.
“Instead, we are facing elevated complaints from residents about numerous potholes, stalled slow execution of projects underway and no definitive time for start and completion projects such as the Gladstone Road expansion,” he said in a statement.
“Certainly, speed and driving without due care and attention have caused damage to vehicles, serious injuries and even death, but so has potholes, deteriorated streets and failure to expand or reconfigure roads clearly identified as hazardous in their present state.”
Minister of Works and Utilities Alfred Sears declined to comment on the state of the roadson Thursday. He said his ministry will soon hold a press conference to outline its plans for the roads on New Providence.
That same day, the Ministry of Works and Utilities tweeted that a paving exercise on Boyd Road had started.
It quoted BahaMix General Manager Ryan Rahming saying that they were working “tirelessly” to complete the thoroughfare by this Friday.
“We know smooth roads make a crucial contribution to the safety of motorist[s],” Rahming said.
“The paving team will ensure this process is completed as quickly as possible, if weather permits.”
Motorists and residents on New Providence have lamented the poor state of roads in recent weeks.
On October 11, Harrison Thompson wrote on Facebook, “Some roads in Nassau are literally about which hole can I hit to do the least damage.”
Less than two weeks later, a woman wrote on Facebook, “The roads in Nassau have never been worse! There’s no such thing as a Sunday cruise around town anymore.
“It’s a friggin’ mind game of dodge the surprise crater coupled with a vibration chamber. You arrive at your destination with at least two more car joints and body parts loosened, bruised, busted and absolutely disgusted!”
Last month, another man said, “Driving through the streets on Nassau, New Providence, is like maneuvering through a literal ‘minefield’ on wheels, while trying to stay alive, avoiding crevices and craters on roads and streets, that may cause injuries to your body internal and externally, catastrophic damages to your automobile.”
On Saturday, a woman posted five photos of large potholes covered in water. She captioned: “Can the MP for Bamboo Town please come and fix these big ocean through Taylor Drive … I drive a jeep and feel like I ga sink.”