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Although not a mandate of the Department of Public Works (Streetlights fall under the Water and Power Authority), DPW is currently replacing all of the streetlights on the Melvin Evans Highway as part of the contract for two projects.

Work began as part of the contract for Williams Delight to Good Hope segment of the Melvin Evans Highway Rehabilitation project.

Now, the work continues as part of the Clifton Hill Connector Project. Grace Civil, the contractor, is replacing the existing poles and luminaires along the remainder of the roadway.

2024 has been an exciting year for the Department of Public Works.

Just look at the island of St. Croix. Before the end of the year, we will have completed the temporary bridge on Queen Mary Highway, the permanent bridge on East Airport Road and the Altona Lagoon.

In Christiansted, many roads have been paved and of course King Street will be paved before the end of the year. And Frederiksted? We’re on the way.

Our commitment to rehabilitate Melvin Evans Highway Continues. This year, our focus has been on the portion between Good Hope and Williams Delight, which of course St. Croix residents also included streetlights. Also, just off Melvin Evans Highway, the Clifton Hill Connector Project is nearing its final phase of completion including dedicated turning lanes on the highway coming before the end of the year.

In the St. Thomas St. John district, courtesy of the American Rescue Plan Act or as you know it, ARPA, we’ve made significant progress restoring our drainage in Downtown Charlotte Amalie. And who can forget of course our drainage project on First Avenue.

Our work transforming the territory through Capital Improvement Projects also continues. This year we kick started construction on major projects such as the Vincent Mason Pool on St. Croix, The Charles Seales Fire Station on St. Croix, The Enid Baa Library on St. Thomas, and the Charles Wesley Turnbull Library on St. Thomas just to name a few.

The Bryan Roach Administration’s commitment to improving our infrastructure has been shown strongly in 2024 and will continue in 2025. And of course, DPW remains on the move.

(Music Credit: Bunji Garlin - Truck on De Road)

Phase 1 of the Downtown Christiansted Repairs Project is Completed pending striping. Phase 2 began Tuesday, with the milling of King Street. Paving will continue down to Government House. Phase 2 also includes sections of Queen, New, West, Smith, Strand, and Queen Cross Streets.

The Virgin Islands Department of Public Works is updating the community on the progress of two of the five bridge projects on St. Croix. At the East Airport Road bridge, the last abutment was poured last week, and this week, the contractor installed the arch bridge.

At the Altona Lagoon Bridge, the contractor completed tying rebar earlier this month and on Friday began pouring concrete for the deck. Approach slabs will be installed after and should be completed by mid-August.

Both bridges are expected to be open to traffic by the beginning of September.

At the US Virgin Islands Department of Public Works, our commitment to improving the territory’s infrastructure is well underway. We work every day to ensure our roads are dependable, durable, and, most importantly, safe.

The projects included in this update are: Phase 1 of the Queen Mary Highway Road Repairs Project; Phase 1 of The Downtown Christiansted Road Repairs Project, The St. Croix Bridge Projects, Phase 1 of the First Avenue project, and Phase 2A of the Veterans Drive Project.

We are proud of all the employees at the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works and our Employee Spotlight series focuses on highlighting those unsung heroes who serve our territory.

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Today's feature is about Sheeniqua Venzen, the department's GVI Fellow.