Work has begun on the slope stabilization and road rehabilitation at Ginger Village, Belmont Main Road
Through funding from the European Union’s 11th European Development Fund B Envelope disaster response grant, the government signed the contract with Dipcon Engineering Services Ltd. on April 28, 2017, for XCD 3,821,822.77.
The grant is being implemented by the Ministry of Economic Planning, Sustainable Development, Industry, Information and Labour and managed by the World Bank through the Regional Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project.
Following the receipt of clearance from the World Bank in relation to social safeguards procedures, the works began with site possession on Monday, October 16, 2017.
The works will include road realignment and rehabilitation, drains, retaining walls, installation of erosion control revegetation mats, and the re-establishment of the bus shed near the Ginger Village Road junction.
The public is asked to note the works shall proceed with the excavation of the slope in the first phase and therefore caution should be observed with the heavy machinery in the area.
Background Information:
On September 2, 2013, a large landslide occurred on the Belmont main road in the area of Ginger Village – rendering the road impassable.
The road is the main inland arterial road that connects several large communities between Mt. Pleasant/Peruvian Vale and Arnos Vale viz Fairhall, Belmont, Mesopotamia, Ginger Village, Evesham, Hopewell, Calder and Richland Park.
This road is also the main inland route to the new international airport at Argyle. As a result of the landslide, the road has been blocked and the traffic has not been able to use the road over half of its length. This has caused significant disruption in the movement of traffic and great difficulties for the road users.
The XCD 183.39 million RDVRP was declared effective by the World Bank on September 9, 2011, and is being implemented over a seven (7) year period that ends on December 31, 2018.
It is 100% financed by credits of USD 46.52 million from the International Development Agency, Strategic Climate Fund Pilot Program for Climate Resilience grants of USD 12 million, a Strategic Climate Fund Loan of USD 3 million and a USD 6.7 million grant from the European Union’s 11th European Development Fund B Envelope.
The project is being implemented by the Public Sector Investment Programme Management Unit of the Ministry of Economic Planning, Sustainable Development, Industry, Information and Labour.