DeCastro Street Sidewalk Upgrades Set to Begin
Physical work on the $798,108.74 DeCastro Street Sidewalk Improvement Project is set to commence in September, featuring full sidewalk reconstruction, drainage repairs, and new accessibility upgrades. The 120-day project will be conducted largely at night to minimize traffic disruption, and includes replacing root-damaged trees with sustainable, salt-tolerant species.
Pedestrians navigating central Road Town will soon experience safer, significantly more accessible footpaths as physical work on the DeCastro Street Sidewalk Improvement Project officially begins this September. The $798,108.74 capital works initiative aims to demolish and reconstruct deteriorated walkways, transforming one of the capital's busiest commercial corridors into a modern streetscape that complies fully with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards.
Funded by the Government of the Virgin Islands, the contract was awarded to local contractor TMB Enterprises through a National Competitive Bidding process. The project is being implemented by the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development, and the Road Town Partnership Committee.
Works will span a 120-day timeline, with overall completion projected for February 2027. Upgrades along the corridor are considered critical due to widespread deterioration, where cracked and lifted concrete has created severe tripping hazards for residents, children, older adults, and individuals with reduced mobility.
In several sections, aggressive root systems from mature trees have fractured the pavement and obstructed pedestrian flow. Under the approved civil works scope, sidewalks on both sides of DeCastro Street will be reconstructed into widened, leveled six-foot walkways, complemented by the reinstatement of existing drainage infrastructure to improve stormwater management.
Given DeCastro Street's vital role in Road Town's daily transit, construction will be phased to preserve continuous vehicular and foot access. The contractor is scheduled to perform the majority of demolition and paving works during nighttime hours to mitigate daytime traffic congestion.
Any required detours will be coordinated with government agencies and communicated in advance to the public. The project design also addresses the corridor's landscaping. Engineering assessments determined that mature Mahogany, White Cedar, and Yellow Poui trees currently lining the street must be removed, as their expansive roots beneath the pavement and parking areas will suffer unavoidable damage during demolition.
To maintain greenery without compromising infrastructure, authorities will plant Bottlebrush and Verawood Bulnesia species. Selected for their salt tolerance and less aggressive root systems, these trees are better suited to the saline conditions of Wickham's Cay and will reduce the risk of recurring pavement damage.
Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture, Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith, noted that modernizing the corridor will make Road Town easier to navigate while supporting local commerce, public services, and community life. As works commence, the public and motorists are urged to exercise caution and adhere strictly to temporary traffic directives and safety signage in the area.
Primary source: VINO