News

As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance national infrastructure and improve road safety, the Government of Dominica is pressing ahead with key rehabilitation projects in the communities of Salisbury and St. Joseph.

These initiatives, led by the Ministry of Public Works, Public Utilities, and the Digital Economy, are aimed at strengthening the island’s road network, addressing structural vulnerabilities, and boosting long-term resilience across critical transport routes.

The rehabilitation of the box culvert near the Isaiah Thomas Secondary School in Saint Joseph is now in its final stages, following months of critical infrastructure work aimed at restoring road safety and improving drainage in the area.

The project, which cost $858,490.53, was carried out by IAH Services under the supervision of the Ministry. It addressed a major failure in the existing structure, where the original culvert outlet had collapsed, posing a serious risk to road users and nearby facilities.

To correct the issue, the previous 20-meter-long circular culvert was demolished and replaced with a modern box culvert of equal length, measuring 1.6 meters by 1.65 meters. A reinforced concrete inlet was also constructed to regulate the flow of water into the new structure.

In addition, a 9.73-meter-long catchment pit was built to improve water collection, and a 17.35-meter-long, six-meter-high retaining wall with an integrated spillway was erected to stabilize the outlet and prevent future erosion.

The completed works significantly enhance the resilience of the infrastructure, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall. With the majority of the project now completed, the upgraded crossing is expected to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians and contribute to the overall reliability of the West Coast Road network.

Meanwhile, rehabilitation works are progressing smoothly on the Salisbury Box Culvert Crossing.

A contract valued at $2,070,439.30 was awarded to Caribbean Concrete Limited for the project, following a structural assessment conducted by the Ministry. The investigation revealed that the existing two-meter AMCO pipe culvert, installed in the 1980s, had significantly deteriorated. This deterioration led to a depression in the road surface, creating a serious hazard for motorists and threatening the overall stability of the roadway.

In response, the Ministry initiated a full rehabilitation plan which includes the construction of a reinforced box culvert crossin

g. The existing structure is being demolished in two phases to maintain traffic flow throughout the project. Work is being carried out one lane at a time to minimize disruption to commuters.

Additional components of the project include the reinstatement of a 40-meter stretch of asphalt pavement and the installation of new guardrails to enhance road safety.

The contacts for both projects were signed on October 11 2024, forming part of Government’s overall mandate to rebuild a stronger, safer and more resilient Dominica.