Rehabilitation of North Sound Alternate Road Begins
Work has begun on the alternate road linking North Sound and The Valley on Virgin Gorda, which was heavily damaged by flooding in 2025. Ninth District Representative Hon. Vincent O. Wheatley says the initial phase will remove old concrete and a redesigned, flood-resilient rebuild is expected to be completed within three months.
Work has begun on the alternate road connecting North Sound and The Valley on Virgin Gorda, Ninth District Representative and Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Wheatley told Virgin Islands News Online (VINO). The road was severely damaged by flooding in 2025, and the immediate rehabilitation is intended to restore access and protect the route against future extreme weather.
Wheatley said the project went to tender last year, a winning contractor was selected, and crews started work over the past weekend. He told VINO the works are expected to be completed within three months, with phase one focused on removing the existing concrete to prepare for a redesigned roadway.
The alternate road is strategically important for residents and visitors. Wheatley noted it is the only land route between North Sound and The Valley if the primary road is impassable: "This road was totally destroyed by the force of the water... If the other road is damaged for any reason, that’s the only way you can get from North Sound to the Valley via the land or vice versa." Restoring the link will therefore re-establish vital island connectivity for daily travel, emergency access and supplies.
The route allows motorists to circumnavigate parts of Virgin Gorda and climb around Gorda Peak, offering some of the territory’s most scenic seascapes and landscapes. Wheatley said the road is a "very important tourist route" and should not remain closed for long to protect the island’s tourism product and visitor experience.
Engineers have developed a new, more intricate design intended to reduce the risk of repeat damage from severe flooding like that experienced in 2025. According to Wheatley, the redesign and reconstruction aim to strengthen the road’s resilience so future storms are less likely to cause catastrophic failure.
Residents and visitors should expect construction activity as phase one progresses and can look for further updates from local authorities. The relatively short three-month timetable targets a prompt reopening, but officials will monitor the work to ensure the rebuilt road meets the resilience standards now required for infrastructure across the Territory.
The information in this article is based on reporting by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) and statements from Hon.
Primary source: VINO