USVI-On-Line

From the Tradewinds:

After eight years of planning and preparation, the island’s weathered and worn North Shore Road will receive much-needed repairs beginning in September.

“The Virgin Islands National Park has been planning this project with Federal Highway Administration for the past eight years,” said V.I. National Park Superintendent Mark Hardgrove. “North Shore Road has not been paved for over 16 years and the road is in bad need of repairs.”

The North Shore Road Rehabilitation project is scheduled to begin mid-September and be finished within a year and a half, according Hardgrove.



“The project is expected to take between 12 and 18 months,” he said.

$2 Mil. from ARRA Funds
The project was originally funded at $4.9 million but because construction costs have nearly doubled over the past eight years, its current budget of $8.1 million passed earlier this year, the superintendent explained.

The $4.9 million of Federal Highway funds collected from gas taxes in the U.S. was enhanced by $1.2 million from National Park Service Fee income collected within the national park for the use of Trunk Bay and its 212 boat moorings, according to Hardgrove. He said the additional $2 million came from stimulus funds as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“We are really pleased to announce that the project was funded and enhanced,” Hardgrove said. “It has been a real partnership not only in the planning of this project, but in the funding as well.”

The scope of the project consists of the rehabilitation and resurfacing of 8.1 miles of North Shore Road as well as resurfacing and drainage improvements within the VINP Headquarters and Visitors Center parking area.

Among the projects slated for North Shore Road are: full and partial width pavement reconstruction; asphalt paving and anti-skid surface treatment; shoulder stabilization; new signage and striping; and drainage improvements.

“There will be some major renovations,” Hardgrove said. “The paving of the entire road will only take a few months, but preparing the road for paving will take some time.”

Sealed bids are now being accepted for the project, Hardgrove said. Bid documents became available for download on June 2 at: http://www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov/contracting/Documents.aspx.

The work should proceed 60 days after a contract is awarded, which is slated for July 7, explained Hardgrove.
The superintendent said at least one lane will remain open on North Shore Road during all times.

“We may hit some exciting times in season,” Hardgrove said. “But the contract allows for no more than a five minute wait.”

While I think this is a great project 1) I will be awfuly surprised if they get this completed in the timeline they identified and 2) I'm thinking folks should expect some delays beyond 5 minutes....

It seems that the "improvements" on STJ will continue until the island resembles a high end stateside suburban community and less of a unique and peaceful Caribbean home.

Maybe I am remembering wrong, but I didn't think that the North Shore Road needed improvements. You should see the roads around here! Potholes deep enough to get lost in. John and I cracked up yesterday because we drove by one that was at least a foot across and almost that deep. It had a circle spray painted around it with bright orange paint, which reminded us of a giant pothole that we saw out in the East End a couple of years ago. Here's the warning for that hole:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/185661145/" title="hole in the road by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/70/18566 ... be213d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="hole in the road"></a>

I can't see how a repaving/regrading project could be bad. If they can keep my stupid jeep from skidding on those switchbacks between Trunk and Cinnamon, I'm OK.

Yes it does appear that it is always the 'stupid jeeps' that get caught by the hungry, roving ditches and beat on by the jumping trees that inhabit the Northshore Road.

Exit Zero wrote:Yes it does appear that it is always the 'stupid jeeps' that get caught by the hungry, roving ditches and beat on by the jumping trees that inhabit the Northshore Road.

I can't say that I've ever hit anything while driving, but if I'm gonna be rented a jeep wit 5 bald tires, I'd be happier knowing the road possibly takes that into account. Asphalt is good. Skidding...not so much.

I lie...I once hit the side of a truck who boxed me into a spot at The fish Trap. I broke a signal light...

Exit Zero is a cynical one- but right. North Shore is the best road on the island. We are always weaving into the oncoming side to avoid potholes and spilled concrete. But, I guess, if it keeps a steady stream of tourists, that is good too.

Isn't North Shore Road handled/budgeted differently because it runs through the park? I think someone told me that once.

At least in 2008, it seemed to be in better shape than Centerline, Gifft Hill or South Shore. But, never turn down govt money. Isn't that how St John got the infamous stoplight? (by not turning it down...lest then never see another dime)

After eight years of planning and preparation, the island’s weathered and worn North Shore Road will receive much-needed repairs beginning in September.

In Government Speak this means the Engineers, Surveyors, and Contractors got all-expenses paid trips down for eight years to pull this project together.

“North Shore Road has not been paved for over 16 years and the road is in bad need of repairs.”

Excuse me Sir but have you been to (put your state here)? __________. And as an example, Knoxville, TN roads have been under construction since before The 1982 Worlds Fair and still isn't finished.

The North Shore Road Rehabilitation project is scheduled to begin mid-September and be finished within a year and a half. “The project is expected to take between 12 and 18 months,” he said.

Have you ever seen a road construction project finish on-time and under-budget? Those terms are a foreign language to that industry. And this is a sure sign that the Interstate Highway and Airport Projects for St. John are all on hold.

$2 Mil. from ARRA Funds
The project was originally funded at $4.9 million but because construction costs have nearly doubled over the past eight years, its current budget of $8.1 million passed earlier this year.

While everyone elses Retirement Accounts went down, current budgets have increased. Imagine that.

The $4.9 million of Federal Highway funds collected from gas taxes in the U.S. was enhanced by $1.2 million from National Park Service Fee income collected within the national park for the use of Trunk Bay and its 212 boat moorings, according to Hardgrove. He said the additional $2 million came from stimulus funds as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Not Reaganomics and not Voodoo Economics and not Trickle Down Theory. Must be Oba-math? 1.2 + 2 = 3.2 and then subtracted from 4.9 = 1.7 and divided by 16 years = $106,250/yr in gas taxes when gas is ??? more than stateside.....oh forget it. It's a simple shell game.

Among the projects slated for North Shore Road are: full and partial width pavement reconstruction; asphalt paving and anti-skid surface treatment; shoulder stabilization; new signage and striping; and drainage improvements.

We've all experienced the "partial-width" part. Please make it wide enough for two Water Trucks to pass each other in opposite directions. And could you do the Striping before Happy Hour?

“There will be some major renovations,” Hardgrove said. “The paving of the entire road will only take a few months, but preparing the road for paving will take some time.”

This is a disclaimer for not meeting the budget/time constraints and the point where the Contractor demands more money.

Sealed bids are now being accepted for the project.

Also known as the time for "under the table handshakes."

The superintendent said at least one lane will remain open on North Shore Road during all times.

And that lane will be the one you ARE NOT in. A true test of Island Time.

“We may hit some exciting times in season,” Hardgrove said. “But the contract allows for no more than a five minute wait.

Sure!!! Can I get that in writing?

I think I'm gonna bid.

Bandit

Well done, Bandit.

Polite applause for you