Road paving begins on Brac
Work has begun on repaving Cayman Brac’s roads for the first time in 30 years.
A new asphalt plant installed on the Bluff is supplying the material to ‘blacktop’ the island’s roads.
So far, about one and a half miles of the Brac’s north coast road, starting at Spot Bay Road, has been resurfaced.
Colford Scott, who is in charge of the new asphalt plant and the resurfacing project, said: “We started work on 30 June. We began at Spot Bay Road on the eastern end of the north coast road and we’re working our way west.”
There are 50 miles of road in Cayman Brac, but Mr. Scott said he had not received instructions at this stage to begin laying asphalt on any other roads on the island other than the one along the north coast.
Recent weather conditions have slowed down work and the amount of asphalt being produced by the plant, he said.
Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, who is also minister of district administration, works, lands and agriculture, joined her ministry’s chief officer, Kearney Gomez, District Commissioner Ernie Scott and Deputy District Commissioner Mark Tibbetts for a visit to the asphalt plant site on 30 June.
“This is a momentous day for Cayman Brac. Our roads were in dire need and even in this stringent economy, this government managed to find the funds to improve safety and beautify the island.
“An upgraded road infrastructure supports sectors such as tourism and agriculture. By improving the road network now, we are positioning the Sister Islands to make a greater impact on the country’s economic growth,” Ms O’Connor-Connolly said.
Following the plant visit, the deputy premier and her ministry staff went to Spot Bay where the first layer of asphalt was to be laid. There, Ms O’Connor-Connolly took over controls of the paver to start the first stretch.
The asphalt plant, which cost between $600,000 and $700,000, was shipped from the US and installed on the Bluff, off Songbird Road, in April. It is capable of producing 80 tonnes of asphalt an hour.
Mr. Scott said it had produced about 2,500 tonnes of asphalt so far to pave the road.
The Terex Magnum 80 drum-mix plant comes with a control cabin, raw materials, asphalt, fuel tank and heater.
The new road surfaces will be created using local aggregate and asphalt from Florida.
Cayman Brac’s Public Works Department and the National Roads Authority are working together on the project.
