100 new road paving projects in 2025

KEVON FELMINE

While protests for road repairs have been a feature of 2024, the Government proposes to initiate 100 new secondary road-paving projects in fiscal 2025.

As Finance Minister Colm Imbert delivered the 2025 Budget to the House of Representatives yesterday, he said the Programme for Upgrading Road Efficiency under the Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT) had initiated over 150 road rehabilitation projects at an estimated cost of $233 million on secondary roads for fiscal 2024.

Of these projects, 85 are complete, 30 are scheduled to commence in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, and 35 are near the tender stage and will be awarded shortly.

“In continuing to improve the infrastructure of the country’s road network, the Ministry of Works and Transport will initiate in 2025, 100 new road-paving projects on local roads at an estimated cost of $210 million. The projects will be undertaken in all areas of Trinidad,” Imbert said.

He said that while MOWT engaged 25 small contractors to supplement and enhance road patching and rehabilitation, it intends to increase this number to 50 in fiscal 2025 to increase coverage. Despite floods wreaking havoc on some communities, Imbert said MOWT undertook over 600 desilting and river-clearing projects nationwide.

“These initiatives aimed to protect waterway erosion and improve drainage throughout the country. Additionally, the ministry’s pumps and gates programme further strengthened flood mitigation efforts.”

MOWT undertook a landslip repair programme, bridge construction and refurbishment endeavours, strategic traffic management protocols, road rehabilitation and paving initiatives, and manhole restoration efforts. Imbert said the Government plans to pursue a nationwide infrastructure revitalisation in 2025, prioritising slope stabilisation measures, mitigation and amelioration of traffic congestion, the reconstruction and repair of bridges, and upgrades to coastal infrastructure. These include coastal repair works on the Paria Main Road, improved access to Maraval, the construction of the Moruga Highway and rehabilitation of Moruga Road, upgrades to the Barataria ramp and underpass, the Southern Main Road, Curepe, and the Tumpuna Road, Arima.

Regarding major works, Imbert said Government remains committed to modernising infrastructure. He announced that the Churchill Roosevelt Highway Extension to Sangre Grande is nearing completion, with the 1.7 km connector to the Eastern Main Road, Sangre Grande, anticipated by April 2025.

The Finance Minister added that the Archibald-DeLeon Highway is already fully operational, with just a few remaining elements to be completed. Upon completion, he said it will significantly enhance connectivity between Point Fortin and other southern towns, stimulating economic growth in the region.

Meanwhile, the $177 million Manzanilla/Mayaro Road reconstruction is in an advanced state, with a targeted completion date for all phases of this project by the end of January 2025.

The Government expects the $57.5 million Omera Road upgrades completed in December.

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