British company wins Dominican road repair contract

go through Time Domain Network Wireline staff

August 15, 2017 at 3:19 pm

A section of the Dominican Highway.

Roseau, Dominica (TDN)
More than a year after receiving funding from the British government to conduct a feasibility study for the road rehabilitation, the Dominican government has selected a road contractor. British company Mott MacDonald has been formally awarded the contract for the study. As part of the project, the company will assess the condition of the Loubiere to Bagatelle road, including about nine bridges, drainage systems and other related infrastructure. The company will also provide detailed design of all necessary civil and structural works and will consider rockfall protection systems and slope stability, among other things. Last July, Dominica and Antigua became the first two Caribbean countries to benefit from a special funding program initiated by the British government, known as the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF), with Dominica receiving a total of EC$2.6 million and Antigua receiving EC$621,000. The funds were disbursed through the Caribbean Development Bank. In August 2015, Dominica’s road network was severely damaged by Tropical Storm Erica, and two years later, visible signs of the damage can be seen across the island. The roads have been severely eroded, and in several places, two-lane roads have been reduced to single lanes due to extensive erosion.

The UK Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund became operational last year, providing grant financing to eight Caribbean countries eligible for overseas development aid, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat.