The EC$21.1 million Willis Road Rehabilitation Project is now scheduled to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2026, according to Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell.
The Prime Minister who is the Minister of Infrastructure Development said that construction work on the project recommenced one week ago with the project now being handled by Construction and Industrial Equipment Limited known as Rayneau.
The Willis Road was part of a sub-project of the Feeder Roads Project which sought to upgrade ten (10) roads and bridges under a contract awarded to Hanover Construction.
This outfit had landed most of the road construction work under the 2018-22 rule of the former New National Party (NNP) administration of Keith Mitchell.
The Prime Minister told reporters at a press conference that in order to have the project restarted the Ministry of Infrastructure Development engaged with three local contractors to form a joint venture to have the work completed.
However, he said the week of the contract signing the main partner in the joint venture unfortunately passed and that “this situation has upended the arrangement and hence the start of the project”.
The Prime Minister also gave an update on the EC$5.7 million Perdmontemps to Vincennes Road given to KALL CO Ltd to repave approximately 3.8 kilometers of road with hot mix asphalt.
He said the work started on March 21 and include Scarify and Removing Existing Surface, Cold Milling of Asphalt Pavement, Bituminous Surface Course, Supply and Place 2” of Asphalt, Installation of Road Signs and Applying Thermoplastic Pavement Markings (yellow/white).
PM Dickon Mitchell also addressed the issue of the new policy being pursued by the Congress administration to engage in contractors who can Design, Build and Finance Road projects and who will be paid by the State after completion of the work done.
He said that negotiations are almost complete with some firms and that draft contracts are being prepared for the scope of work to be undertaken.
Among the projects to be undertaken under such an agreement are the Cliff Junction to the Maurice Bishop Highway, the Eastern Main Road from the Cliff Junction to Westerhall Point.
“This package is finalised. The contractor (NAMALCO) is in the final stages of mobilisation. Work is expected to begin at the beginning of the second quarter.”
Rayneau has also been awarded two contracts by government to do work on the Mabouya Landslip in the rural parish of St John and also the road network from Tempe to Mt. Kumar in the St George North-east constituency.
The Prime Minister said: “This package is finalised. Work is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026 following the completion of the NAWASA GCREWS Project.”
During the press briefing, the Grenadian leader gave an update on the proposed Old Westerhall to St. Paul’s Post Office Road.
“This package will be finalised in the months of April,” he remarked.
In addition, he said the Grand Etang reinstatement and road widening project was delayed due to the NAWASA GCREWS Project.
He stated that reinstatement of the roadway is now almost complete and that the widening aspect of the road will continue into the late second quarter of the year.
On the Perdmontemp to Vincennes Road Project, work has started and that “the milling of the first section is complete and paving will commence as soon as the asphalt is made available”.
The Prime Minister also touched on the problem being encountered by motorists who use the Woolwich Road in the Town of St George.
He said: “Requests for bids from eligible contractors have been made publicly available on the Procurement website. The project includes demolition and reconstruction of retaining walls, storm drains, cross culverts and road reinstatement.
“The deadline for bid submission is April 03rd 2026. Following the selection process for the most advantageous bidder, construction work is expected to begin within six weeks,” he added.
According to Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, government has also identified several roads that will become high priority for road maintenance in 2026 – Eastern Main Road, Western Main Road, Grenville to Tivoli, Town of Grenville (repaving of the entire town), and the road from Mt. Moritz Junction to SOL Plant at Grand Mal.
He also told reporters that the recent purchase of a Pothole Patcher by government will help to speed up road maintenance on the island.
“As part of the drive to improve our efficiency and effectiveness in road maintenance the Ministry procured a pothole patcher truck. This vehicle will be equipped with an asphalt mix tank and tools for cutting and compacting. This truck will be on the move daily addressing potholes,” he said.
“The Pothole Patcher is here. Training was conducted by representatives of the manufacturer last week. The truck is out today patching potholes,” he added.