by Trevor Yearwood

The multi-million dollar ABC Highway Expansion Project is on schedule, but faces challenges that could mean some delays.

Minister of Transport, Works, and International Transport, John Boyce, told reporters yesterday that while the first phase was listed to be completed by the end of May, "there may be, of course, some delays in areas like where we are now".

He was referring to a section of the highway near the Garfield Sobers Roundabout.

Boyce, on tour of the $117 million first phase developments, listed acquisition of parcels of land needed for the highway expansion among the challenges.

Director of Engineering for the company 3S Barbados SRL, Ian Fields, spoke of challenges posed by the land acquisitions and "the density, the concentration of underground utilities".

He said: "In this area we have a significant maze of very old and original infrastructure for the utilities such as high-pressure water mains, electrical lines, telephone lines, gas lines and also fibre optics.

"It has been very challenging for the contractor to relocate and make provision for the new diversion of these utilities, in conjunction with all the new drainage going in. So [it is] a very complex situation, a very demanding situation . . . .

"I think that's why a lot of people will see that progress might not have been as fast in this area as all the other areas."

Nevertheless, Fields said the project had been able to move at "exceptional" speed. He reported that "significant areas" of the project were nearing completion.

However, he conceded that the first phase of the project might overrun the completion date "in selected smaller areas".

Boyce also said Government was likely to turn to the community to determine whether to have pedestrian overpasses or underpasses for the highway.

"There is still some discussion as to whether underpasses or overpasses for pedestrians are adequate," he told reporters.

"I'm gathering from my inquiries that the underpasses are particularly unpopular with the pedestrians and the police because they think they are havens for crime and [also] dangerous.

"Overpasses, of course, have their challenges in terms of access, especially for the physically challenged persons, and, of course, children. Then again there is the question of heights . . . ."

He said pedestrians did not like the sensation of being up in the air crossing the street while vehicles were "zooming past" underneath them.

"I think it would be useful to get some more discussion in the communities, especially St Barnabas, which is particularly suitable to an underpass . . .," he added.

It was important that the community's needs be satisfied, the minister said, "so this question will be looked at again before a final instruction is given".

Boyce also said signage on the highway would be put right with urgency.