(Eleuthera, Bahamas) – The expansive Queen’s Highway, the one main road in Eleuthera, which runs from the Three Island Dock, Gene’s Bay, and The Current in the north, down to the southernmost township of Bannerman Town at the other end of the 110 mile long island, has progressively deteriorated in several areas during the latter half of 2015 and into 2016, resulting in many, dangerous potholes of varying sizes in a number of areas along its length. While officials tend to place the cause on nature, the contribution of poor quality surfacing in some instances cannot be ignored. Whatever the cause however, the reality is that maintenance repairs are few and far between. At night, where the vast majority of the road is unlit and oncoming cars may not dim their lights, the situation worsens. 


A section of road in Gregory Town. 

Vehicles are damaged by the poor conditions and officials are also saying that the occurrence rate of road traffic accidents have increased.

“The costs of importing vehicle parts to Eleuthera, paying mechanics, frequently changing tires and vehicle downtime in this time of increased taxes is burdensome”, commented a business owner, who like several others, must drive the length of the road often in the process of conducting business.

On February 24th, the Administrator for Central Eleuthera penned the following letter, which was addressed to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Works in New Providence, after a recent Heads of Department meeting, where critical issues affecting the district were discussed at length as well as actions to chart the course moving forward. 

 

Extract from Administrator’s letter:

“There were two areas of critical concern which led to a lengthy discussion.  They are as follows: repairs to roads on the major highways in the district and the possible reconstruction of the road at Lover’s Hill curve in Governor’s Harbour [where some of the most violent crashes have happened recently].

“POTHOLES:  In recent times, because of inclement weather during the hurricane season, the highways within the district have developed large potholes, to the extent that members of the public have been expressing their interest in have the same repaired.  We also had complaints of persons vehicles being damaged.

 “CURVES:  In recent times we have noticed an increase in traffic accidents to the extent of where persons received serious injuries and had to be air-lifted into New Providence for medical treatment.  This is a regular occurrence on a weekly basis and is taxing the medical profession heavily.  I have had communication with Mr. Lionel Rolle of Ministry of Works and he had indicated that he has limitations as it relates to materials to assist with road repairs.  I do understand the financial constraints as it relates to the Government, but I am humbly requesting any sort of assistance to have asphalt, however small the quantity, shipped to Central Eleuthera to assist with repairs and to eliminate the public complaints as it relates to the curve at Lover’s Hill.  It was also suggested that engineers from your department visit the island to examine the mentioned areas to see how best the problem can be rectified, perhaps with the possibility to reconstruct the road.

 I look forward to your favourable assistance and I thank you in advance.”

The letter was signed by Family Island Administrator, Mr. Joseph A. Ferguson.