The government has issued nine contracts worth a total of $360,000 to address the wide-scale pothole problem that has swelled on New Providence roads over the last several weeks, Ministry of Works Senior Engineer Dexter Williams said yesterday. Williams said the persistent rain has compounded the problem and prevented workmen from carrying out the patch work necessary.

“We have been trying to conquer that situation for the past couple of weeks, however we have been inhibited in our approach,” Williams said. “The weather hasn’t been too generous to us.” Flooding in some areas across the island has contributed to the number of potholes that have developed.

“We have a situation where potholes catch up with potholes,” Williams said. “... But we have things in place where we are trying to deal with that situation when the weather becomes more favorable.”

Williams admitted that members of the public have complained over the number of potholes.

He said the Ministry of Works has also received a steady stream of complaints from people seeking compensation for broken rims, damaged front ends, etc. as a result of their vehicles hitting potholes.

Williams said the $40,000 contracts were sent to nine businesses.

Though potholes are not confined to any particular area, Williams said many inner city communities have more significant problems with potholes. He said the Ministry of Works also has challenges with Eastern Road and Village Road.

However, he said the ministry deals with cases based on a priority system that it has in place. Roads are divided in three classifications: arterial roads (high capacity roads), collector roads (low to moderate capacity roads) and local roads (often used to provide access to houses or roads that are parallel to arterial roads).

“The main arterial roads will get priority treatment, then the main collectors will get treatment after,” Williams explained. “So that is why sometimes, not that we don’t know about these holes, but sometimes they are overlooked because of the urgencies that developed on the main arterials.”

While the arterial roads are considered priority, he said the local roads are more of a nuisance.

“The biggest concern with the roads is not the arterials, it would be the collector and local roads,” he said. “The local roads are where the majority of the people live. Those roads are like a nuisance to people who live in those areas and these are the people who are always complaining about the roads not being fixed.”

He said challenges regarding the drainage system also contribute to the potholes.

“We have challenges in regards to inadequate draining infrastructure,” he noted. “The area was developed faster than the civil infrastructure could keep up with. So we have a program now where we are putting in some new wells.

“Pinewood has it own challenges, similar to Nassau Village and similar to Elizabeth Estates. These are low-lying areas and the wells are not necessarily the best draining structure for these areas.”

He said once the new wells are installed some of the challenges will be addressed.