Government Information Service

by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service

Work on half a million dollar Botanic Gardens wall project has begun. During the week of the 9th of June, 2009, the wall opposite the University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Continuing Studies on Elmshall Road was demolished.

Engineer in the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructural Development, Emile Lancelot, in an interview with the Government Information Service, said that the ongoing project is designed to rehabilitate a section of the Elmshall road and to create sidewalks in that section of the road.

“The plan is to rehabilitate the Elmshall Road between Valley Road and the entrance to the Botanical Gardens. This work will include the rehabilitation of the drains on the eastern side of the road and sidewalks. As a matter of fact, presently, there are no sidewalks on most of that side existing. Therefore, we intend to install sidewalks of two metres (2m) wide with proper drainage. In addition to that, we are going to rebuild the Garden’s wall on the eastern side.”

The project is executed in two phases and will last for approximately ten (10) weeks.

“The first phase of the project, we expect it to last for about eight (8) weeks and will encompass the construction of the wall and drainage and sidewalks. Following that, we expect the road roadway to be completed within two weeks which include the resurfacing of the portion of that road.”

According to Mr. Lancelot, there was need for the rehabilitation of the wall. Care was taken so as not to diminish from the current structure of the wall while environmental concerns were taken into consideration for the project.

“The wall, as is, was in a very deplorable state and it required actual reconstruction. It was beyond repair so the Government is embarking on rebuilding that wall in keeping with the style of function that it had previously. Actually, we are going to re-use the material of the old one in the re-construction of the new wall so that as much as possible, there will be no difference or deviation from what people know as the Gardens’ wall.

In an effort not to destroy valuable trees, we are only putting sidewalks on the eastern side of the road because if we were to put sidewalks on the western side of the road it would involve the removal of some very valuable trees. However, to facilitate the works, we had to remove three (3) trees. These were trees that were leaning against the existing wall and were actually contributing to the further deterioration of the wall. In addition to that, these trees were not planted by the botanist who have been taking care of the Botanic Gardens, but were trees which emerged there in the last twenty (20) years as was told by the personnel of the Ministry of Agriculture who were consulted in deciding which trees which would be moved and which trees we would ensure are preserved in the execution of the project.”

In addition to the sidewalks and drainage, allowance will be made to allow cars to pack on the western side of the road.

“In addition to the pedestrian facilities on this road, we are also improving the vehicular facilities to allow for smoother flow and in addition to that, providing some parking on the western side of the roadway that is along the reconstructed wall.”

Mr. Lancelot, in providing justification for such a move, said that there are some important institutions along that road, namely Alliance Française De La Dominique Building and the University of the West Indies Continuing School of Education building. In addition to that, it is along the Botanic Gardens which has been and still continue to be a place where a lot of activities take place: cricket, Creole in the Park and even exhibitions as was held last year. Because of the popularity of that area which is commonly used for parking, an effort was made to make use of that area to provide some additional parking.

Government views this project as part of the overall improvement of the road network in the city of Roseau.