The Ministry of Works has launched its Road Safety 'International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP)' to bring increased safety to the streets.  The programme has been launched with the acquisition of two camera-mounted trucks, complete with tire sensors and outfitted with computer and GPS systems. The project is being funded by a $300,000 grant facilitated by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

Assessments have already been conducted on New Providence.  One of the trucks is currently in Grand Bahama and the other will be sent to Eleuthera over the next few days to conduct assessments on those islands.  The announcement was made on November 21, 2024 at the Physical Planning Department on JFK Drive.

Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs, the Hon. Clay Sweeting, was in attendance and said that this project is a 'timely' and consequential one for the country.  He thanked the CDB for funding the project and spoke of the importance of the project.

"For a very long time, we have seen the need to place more emphasis on the importance of road safety," he said. "This project will ensure that this objective is met."  The Minister said that the addition of these trucks to properly assess various road conditions will enhance the current steps being taken in improving road projects and advancements in infrastructure.

Senior Engineer, Transportation, Mr. John Mwalugaja said that the two service vehicles have been deployed for inspectors and engineers to conduct assessments on public roads.  He said that there are immediate improvements that can be made and that the Ministry has been working on those to bring more safety to the streets.  He noted, however, that human behaviour is key in ensuring road safety.

Geotechnical & Civil Engineer, Mr. Albrion Symonette, Jr., said that one of the trucks is currently on Grand Bahama and the other will be sent to Eleuthera in order for assessments to be carried out on those islands.

Other stakeholders from Caribbean Development Bank, which is financing the project, and Civil Engineer & Road Safety Specialist, SEMIC, discussed a video presentation that featured the way the technical software would work while inspectors and engineers surveilled the streets. 

The Ministry of Works has launched its Road Safety 'International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP)' to bring increased safety to the streets.  The programme has been launched with the acquisition of two camera-mounted trucks, complete with tire sensors and outfitted with computer and GPS systems. The project is being funded by a $300,000 grant facilitated by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Assessments have already been conducted on New Providence.  One of the trucks is currently in Grand Bahama and the other will be sent to Eleuthera over the next few days to conduct assessments on those islands.  The announcement was made on November 21, 2024 at the Physical Planning Department on JFK Drive. Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs, the Hon. Clay Sweeting, was in attendance and said that this project is a 'timely' and consequential one for the country.  He thanked the CDB for funding the project and spoke of the importance of the project. "For a very long time, we have seen the need to place more emphasis on the importance of road safety," he said. "This project will ensure that this objective is met."  The Minister said that the addition of these trucks to properly assess various road conditions will enhance the current steps being taken in improving road projects and advancements in infrastructure. Senior Engineer, Transportation, Mr. John Mwalugaja said that the two service vehicles have been deployed for inspectors and engineers to conduct assessments on public roads.  He said that there are immediate improvements that can be made and that the Ministry has been working on those to bring more safety to the streets.  He noted, however, that human behaviour is key in ensuring road safety. Geotechnical & Civil Engineer, Mr. Albrion Symonette, Jr., said that one of the trucks is currently on Grand Bahama and the other will be sent to Eleuthera in order for assessments to be carried out on those islands. Other stakeholders from Caribbean Development Bank, which is financing the project, and Civil Engineer & Road Safety Specialist, SEMIC, discussed a video presentation that featured the way the technical software would work while inspectors and engineers surveilled the streets. 

Please be advised that Bahmix has scheduled paving works for a section of COWPEN ROAD (1000ft west of Faith Ave. Junction). The works will commence, Wednesday, February 21st through 23rd, 2024.

The road works will begin at 7:30am to 2:30pm daily. The Ministry is asking that all vehicles (derelict or otiverwise) be removed from the roadside with immediate effect.

The motoring public is advised to avoid this area if possible, and to acknowledge, and comply with all posted traffic signage. Please note that only Business Owners & Residents will be allowed access through the road site.

Concerns may be addressed by contacting Bahamix at (242) 829-5996 or (242) 361-3882.

The Ministry apologizes for any inconvenience caused.

 

Please be advised that Bahamix has scheduled paving works in the KENNEDY SUBDIVISION on the following roads, VERNON & GILBERT STREETS and COLLIE AVE. The works will commence, Wednesday, February 21st, 2024 through March, 15* 2024. The road works will begin at 7:30AM to 2:30PM Daily. The Ministry is asking that all vehicles (derelict or otherwise) be removed from the roadside with immediate effect.

The motoring public is advised to avoid this area if possible, and to acknowledge and comply with all posted traffic signage. Please note that only Business Owners & Residents will be allowed access through the road site.

Concerns may be addressed by contacting Bahamix at (242) 829-5996 or (242) 361-3882.

The Ministry apologizes for any inconvenience caused.

 

Please be advised that Bahmix has scheduled paving works for a section of BELLOT ROAD (McKinney Ave. to Gladstone Road). The works will commence, Monday, February 26th through March 5th, 2024.

The road works will begin at 7:30am to 2:30pm daily. The Ministry is asking that all vehicles (derelict or otherwise) be removed from the roadside with immediate effect.

The motoring public is advised to avoid this area if possible, and to acknowledge, and comply with all posted traffic signage. Please note that only Business Owners & Residents will be allowed access through the road site.

Concerns may be addressed by contacting Bahamix at (242) 829-5996 or (242) 361-3882.

The Ministry apologizes for any inconvenience caused.

Please be advised that Bahmix has scheduled paving works for a section of COWPEN ROAD (1000ft west of Faith Ave. Junction). The works will commence, Wednesday, February 21st through 23rd, 2024. The road works will begin at 7:30am to 2:30pm daily. The Ministry is asking that all vehicles (derelict or otiverwise) be removed from the roadside with immediate effect. The motoring public is advised to avoid this area if possible, and to acknowledge, and comply with all posted traffic signage. Please note that only Business Owners & Residents will be allowed access through the road site. Concerns may be addressed by contacting Bahamix at (242) 829-5996 or (242) 361-3882. The Ministry apologizes for any inconvenience caused.

A $98m road paving programme will start next month to repair more than 50 miles of roads in New Providence.

Clay Sweeting, Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs, said Bahamix will be the main contractor for the $98,210,000 programme, which aims to improve the porosity of 55 community and arterial roads in New Providence and the Family Islands. The New Providence portion of the programme will cost $91,207,000.68 and work is scheduled to happen within two and a half years. Sidewalk construction costs $3m and drainage works $4m. Some $2m has also been budgeted to address flooding issues in the Dowdeswell and Bay Street areas. “The ministry recognises that asphalt surfaces degrade over time due to weather, heavy traffic, ageing leading to cracks, potholes and safety risks,” Mr Sweeting said yesterday during an Office of the Prime Minister press briefing. “To address this, it proposes an asphalt milling and paving programme to replace old asphalt with new durable material.” “Eventually, if you don’t fix the road, then you have to not just mill it but rebuild it. So even though this might seem a hefty price tag, if we do it now, it will save the government in the long run because we wouldn’t have to rebuild the roads from scratch. Mr Sweeting said the ministry will focus particularly on Tonique Williams-Darling Highway, Joe Farrington Road, sections of Blue Hill Road, sections of East Bay Street and West Bay Street, DowdeswelDowdeswell l Street, Montrose Avenue, Mount Royal Avenue, Cowpen Road, Windsor Field Road, Eastern Road, Soldier Road, East Street and Kemp Road in the first quarter of 2024. The project will include Cat Island, Long Island, Eleuthera, ongoing works in Exuma, and Abaco in the Family Islands. Senior civil engineer Francis Clarke said the project will be different from the New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP), which started on November 2, 2009, took three years to complete and saw its initial $60m budget double. The project angered residents. Unlike that programme, the upcoming project is not concerned with road reconstruction. “The NRIP was total reconstruction of a road that included infrastructure, underground utilities and sidewalks,” Mr Clarke said. “What we are doing in this programme is resurfacing and repaving, taking off the old asphalt and milling it.” Mr Francis said disruption for residents will not be as intrusive as it was during the NRIP. “There will be private contractors, along with the Ministry of Works in-house paving arm, that will put traffic management in place to minimise any type of disruption,” he said.

Clay Sweeting, Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs, said Bahamix will be the main contractor for the $98,210,000 programme, which aims to improve the porosity of 55 community and arterial roads in New Providence and the Family Islands.

The New Providence portion of the programme will cost $91,207,000.68 and work is scheduled to happen within two and a half years. Sidewalk construction costs $3m and drainage works $4m.

Some $2m has also been budgeted to address flooding issues in the Dowdeswell and Bay Street areas.

“The ministry recognises that asphalt surfaces degrade over time due to weather, heavy traffic, ageing leading to cracks, potholes and safety risks,” Mr Sweeting said yesterday during an Office of the Prime Minister press briefing. “To address this, it proposes an asphalt milling and paving programme to replace old asphalt with new durable material.”

“Eventually, if you don’t fix the road, then you have to not just mill it but rebuild it. So even though this might seem a hefty price tag, if we do it now, it will save the government in the long run because we wouldn’t have to rebuild the roads from scratch.

Mr Sweeting said the ministry will focus particularly on Tonique Williams-Darling Highway, Joe Farrington Road, sections of Blue Hill Road, sections of East Bay Street and West Bay Street, DowdeswelDowdeswell l Street, Montrose Avenue, Mount Royal Avenue, Cowpen Road, Windsor Field Road, Eastern Road, Soldier Road, East Street and Kemp Road in the first quarter of 2024.

The project will include Cat Island, Long Island, Eleuthera, ongoing works in Exuma, and Abaco in the Family Islands.

Senior civil engineer Francis Clarke said the project will be different from the New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP), which started on November 2, 2009, took three years to complete and saw its initial $60m budget double. The project angered residents.

Unlike that programme, the upcoming project is not concerned with road reconstruction.

“The NRIP was total reconstruction of a road that included infrastructure, underground utilities and sidewalks,” Mr Clarke said. “What we are doing in this programme is resurfacing and repaving, taking off the old asphalt and milling it.”

Mr Francis said disruption for residents will not be as intrusive as it was during the NRIP.

“There will be private contractors, along with the Ministry of Works in-house paving arm, that will put traffic management in place to minimise any type of disruption,” he said.

 

The Ministry of Transport & Housing wishes to advise members of the public of the proper application of the commercial driver’s licence.

According to section 35A of the Road Traffic Act, a commercial driver’s licence is required tooperate heavy duty vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, heavy equipment, and placardedhazardous material vehicles when travelling on the road network.

Specifically, a commercial driver’s licence is required to operate a single vehicle or acombination of a vehicle and a trailer if the total gross vehicle weight rating is more than 10,000pounds. However, the Ministry wishes to highlight that the Controller of the Road TrafficDepartment has the discretion to provide an endorsement for any vehicle fitting that ratingunder special circumstances.

Persons driving F150s and a personal towing vehicle weighing less than 10,000 pounds donot require commercial driver’s licences.

As training for operators to obtain a commercial driver’s licence from the Road TrafficDepartment is ongoing, the Ministry and the Royal Bahamas Police Force will work to hold aseries of public engagement exercises in the coming days.

The Ministry wishes to note that a special exemption and waiver of licence fees has beengranted to emergency first responders (ambulances, fire trucks, and other emergencyvehicle operators) throughout The Bahamas.

Operators of heavy-duty vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, heavy equipment, and placardedhazardous material vehicles are not included in the special exemptions.

The Ministry of Transport and the Royal Bahamas Police Force will work together to ensurethat there is a full understanding of the Act and that efforts to improve road safety arestrengthened. 

The Ministry of Transport & Housing wishes to advise members of the public of the proper application of the commercial driver’s licence. According to section 35A of the Road Traffic Act, a commercial driver’s licence is required to operate heavy duty vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, heavy equipment, and placarded hazardous material vehicles when travelling on the road network. Specifically, a commercial driver’s licence is required to operate a single vehicle or a combination of a vehicle and a trailer if the total gross vehicle weight rating is more than 10,000 pounds. However, the Ministry wishes to highlight that the Controller of the Road Traffic Department has the discretion to provide an endorsement for any vehicle fitting that rating under special circumstances. Persons driving F150s and a personal towing vehicle weighing less than 10,000 pounds do not require commercial driver’s licences. As training for operators to obtain a commercial driver’s licence from the Road Traffic Department is ongoing, the Ministry and the Royal Bahamas Police Force will work to hold a series of public engagement exercises in the coming days. The Ministry wishes to note that a special exemption and waiver of licence fees has been granted to emergency first responders (ambulances, fire trucks, and other emergency vehicle operators) throughout The Bahamas. Operators of heavy-duty vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, heavy equipment, and placarded hazardous material vehicles are not included in the special exemptions. The Ministry of Transport and the Royal Bahamas Police Force will work together to ensure that there is a full understanding of the Act and that efforts to improve road safety are strengthened.