COOPER?S TOWN, Abaco ? The Government signed five contracts totaling over $4 million dollars for reconstruction of roads and construction of sidewalks in North Abaco.
?We anticipate that these road works will contribute to enhanced road safety and to the overall development of North Abaco,? said Neko Grant, Minister of Public Works and Transport, during the signing ceremony at the Magistrate?s Court in Cooper?s Town on Thursday, May 21.

Stephen Pedican, Chief Councillor for North Abaco described the signings as a ?long awaited? and ?much anticipated? event. The work includes reconstruction of Cornish Avenue, presently a concrete road, in Cooper?s Town and construction of a sidewalk from Fire Road to the Cooper?s Town Public School.

More than 28 miles of roads in Cooper?s Town, Blackwood, Wood Cay, Fox Town, Mount Hope and Crown Haven, and Queen?s Highway between Treasure Cay Airport and Crown Haven Dock will also be reconstructed or resurfaced.

The Cornish Avenue project was awarded to Robert Edgecombe for $81,600. Bahamas Hot Mix received the $3,667,040 contract for the reconstruction and resurfacing of the road network in North Abaco. Three contracts totaling $330,930 were also awarded to Odel Cox, Calvin Parker and Bertram Cooper for the construction of sidewalks from Fire Road to the Cooper?s Town Public School.

Minister Grant said the contractors are all well known in the Abaco community for satisfactory completion of previous projects. Bahamas Hot Mix is engaged in several projects in New Providence and the Family Islands and has produced satisfactory results, Mr Grant said. He thanked the Ministry of Finance, the Department of Local Government, the Local Government Council and the staff of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport for their work in the planning and tendering processes. His team included Permanent Secretary Colin Higgs, Acting Director of Works Gordon Major, Chief Engineer Robert Garraway, and Undersecretary Nicole Campbell.

Photo: Public Works and Transport Minister Neko Grant is pictured with contractors who received contracts to reconstruct and resurface Abaco roads and construct sidewalks in Cooper?s Town on Thursday, May 21, 2009. From left are Odel Cox, Bertram Cooper, Minister Grant, Robert Edgecombe, Calvin Parker, and Bahamas Hot Mix managing director Ebbi Saidi. (BIS photo/Letisha Henderson)