USVI-On-Line

I was just reading some info on the News of STJ site and read this in relation to news about the Roundabout project:

Here's something Public Works had better think of now, too. The south shore road up Gifft Hill is a disaster. Potholes galore need to be fixed. If Gifft Hill is not repaired, folks at the Westin, Great Cruz Bay, Chocolate Hole, Rendezvous, Fish Bay and so on are in trouble if they find gridlock getting into town by the south route. Their only option is to go up Gifft Hill ... and that's treacherous, even on dry roads. Hope Public Works has got some money for asphalt!

I posted a comment on Frank's site to get more info but any idea what he is saying here? I have never been on Gifft Hill but I believe you take South Shore to GH Rd, correct? So is he saying to get there, the roads are mess or that GH Rd. itself is a mess? Confused and just wondering what we are in for come November.
Thanks,
Mary Beth

Accessing GH road from the South Shore road is a bit rough once you pass Chocolate Hole and approach the Fish Bay road.
There are a ton of potholes.
The switchbacks from the Fish Bay Road onto GH are tough when dry, and rougher when wet. If they are blocking Centerline, the traffic will have to go that way (or Northshore) to get to Coral Bay.
It will make for traffic and some tough going.

thanks, I don't recall how far we drove out that way last time we were there. We better be sure to buckle up on the way out there then, huh?

Isn't GH itself also a bit treacherous (sp?) if you come from Centerline?

I think it is easy from Centerline. It gets rough when you start down to meet up with the South Shore Road.

ok thanks. I believe where we are staying is closer to the SS Rd if I'm not mistaken!

Dear Mary Beth:

In the past year or so, there has been a lot of development above Rendezvous and Cruz Bay, with builders accessing those west-looking lots (St. Thomas) by going up the Gifft Hill Road. Single-family homes as well as development of Virgin Grand Estate lots.

In other words, a lot of construction traffic (examples: cement trucks, flatbeds hauling bulldozers) on a two-lane (?) road, that has a lot of switchbacks.

Potholes get started, and get bigger.

Even in dry weather, your wheels might spin as you make what are 90 degree left or right turns to go up the road.

Once you're at the top, you're OK. But getting there is trouble.

Folks who live at Reef or Fish or anywhere past the Westin - if the roundabout project does become gridlock - will have the Gifft Hill climb as a workaround - but it won't be easy - or safe.

thanks for the info Frank!

When we stayed at Golden Dragon (Fish Bay Road) we used Gifft Hill as a shortcut to Centerline...once. That road was in bad shape back then, I can imagine it is only worse now. I am pretty sure John had to engage the 4WD for most of the road.

Hi Mary Beth,

We did find it much quicker to take south shore to gift hill as oppossed to Centerline. Centerline was a much smoother drive. Gift Hill Rd is in pretty rough shape and luckily we never drove it when wet. We never engaged 4WD though for the entire trip and our wheels only slipped just a little once or twice. I can say that I felt much more comfortable driving the Grand Vitara on that road then I did the Liberty. The Liberty was wider.

I was really scared of Gift Hill Rd before I got down there and then the villa mgmt company took us that way to get to the villa and I couldn't believe that was the road I'd been worried about. Disclaimer here though....live in Missouri and I think our roads are rated the worst in the country.

Your trip is getting so much closer! I'm going to be so jealous when I know you are at "our" villa!

Thanks Nic, sounds like we will be fine! And how can you be jealous when you will be on your SECOND trip of the year before I even get there!

But MB, we'll be all done with our travel for several months and you'll still be getting to look forward to yours!

Nic in KC wrote:But MB, we'll be all done with our travel for several months and you'll still be getting to look forward to yours!

there's always a trade off

Mary Beth, your villa is north of the section of Gifft Hill that contains the switchbacks. You could avoid them by using Centerline rather than the South road. It's only about 10 minutes to town, so no biggy. Just watch out for a group of cows that like to travel GH road. We saw them most days and once we come upon them and they were really hustling up to Centerline. We went around the next bend and found someone was herding them home, where ever that may be.

I'm so confused now! I thought Capiz was closer to South Shore Rd. than Centerline? No biggie, we will try it both ways once we are there. Thanks for the info.