Public Works Department to Undertake Property Condition Survey Ahead of Major Road Project

Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 18, 2019 (SKNIS): On March 14, 2019, nine local contractors officially signed contracts to commence Phase 2 of the Island Main Road Rehabilitation Project in St. Kitts. However, before any of the heavy work begins, the Public Works Department (PWD) will undertake a Property Condition Survey.

The survey entails workers from the PWD going house to house to make a structural assessment of all properties located 100 yards away from the centre of the island main road. This covers properties on the left and right sides of the lane marking. In St. Kitts and Nevis, the lane marking is represented by a white solid or broken line.

PWD Engineer George Gilbert said the workers will first ask for permission to enter the property to conduct the evaluation.

“We want to see if the walls have any cracks in it. We will take note of it … take pictures and document these things,” he stated, noting that the cracks will be measured and occupants informed of the damage.

To give a practical example using the community of Cayon, Mr. Gilbert said structures such as Zumie’s Auto Repair, the St. Kitts Electricity Company Ltd. Substation, the Cayon Moravian Church, Cayon Health Centre, Cayon Community Centre, and all residential structures along the way will be visited.

“We have to evaluate all of those properties to see their structural condition and then at the end of the project if you have any concerns about your property … we can go back to our records and we can compare notes,” Mr. Gilbert stated.

Phase 2 of the island’s main road rehabilitation project covers the area between Cayon and Challengers travelling eastwards. The section of the island’s main road that runs through Old Road will be upgraded in a separate rehabilitation project.