Work has commenced on the deteriorating Bluff Road at La Pompe, located on the Grenadine island of Bequia. The construction of the wall is intended to rectify the road’s failing.
The erection of the 150-foot barrier is needed to guarantee the security of motorists travelling towards the southern extremity of the island.
A sum of $696,000 has been designated by the government for the purpose of realigning the road at Bluff. Additional segments of the Paget Farm Road will also be targeted for improvement in distinct infrastructure initiatives this year.
In May 2023, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves classified the road at Bluff on the Grenadine island of Bequia as a complex engineering challenge.
“What has been taking some time is that the technical people were having some issues that they had to resolve among themselves. That is the better approach for a long-term solution rather than a short-term one.”
“There is going to be a long-term solution, and there have been consultations already with people in the area; properties would have to be acquired, at least some; it’s a complicated engineering problem,” Gonsalves stated.
The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report, submitted by FDL Consult Inc. in December 2016 and revised in January 2017, examined four potential options for building the Paget Farm road alignment in St. Lucia.
In order to determine the ranking of design options, a multi-criteria methodology was employed, guided by the World Bank’s three fundamental principles of sustainable development: economic feasibility, social implications, and environmental consequences.
The third option underwent a comprehensive analysis and technical planning, and it was put forth as the recommended alternative for this segment of Paget Farm Road.
Option 3: The Magenta or Massa Hill Option involves relocating the road further inland. This alternative presents the possibility of an extended lifespan without taking into account the effects of coastal erosion or the influence on the marine ecosystem. Nevertheless, it does have a significantly greater ecological impact.
Expanding the land area is necessary in order to generate a more gradual decline. The ramifications of this would incur significant social, environmental, and economic burdens. Furthermore, there is a possibility of prolonged negotiations due to the discontent of a landowner who is displeased with the road passing through her property.
The Paget Farm road functions as the main connection to the Bequia Airport, the Fisheries Centre, and the island’s primary desalination plant. Consequently, it is one of the most heavily trafficked road segments in Bequia.
