Minister of Public Works Philip Davis said that he is pleased with the progress of the roadworks and maintains that his government has handled the project differently and perhaps better than the previous administration.

“I am pleased with how the works are progressing,” he said.

“It’s on schedule to be completed at the end of October except the accommodation works such as the sidewalks, drainage and other things. Those things should be completed during the defect period, which is in January and then we will have the handover.”

Mr. Davis said the road reopening clearly shows the difference in how the project is being managed.

“As a matter of fact, I’m happy to report that there have been some savings, given the manner in which the work is being executed over the last few months,” he said.

Ministry of Public Works’ Project Coordinator for the NPRIP, Khader Alikhan said recently that it difficult to give a number on exactly how much was spent.

“It is difficult to quantify the savings at this point in time, but as [Mr. Davis] says, a lot of effort has been made to minimise the cost of the project,” he said. “Only during the final accounting time will we come to know what the savings have been.”

Mr. Davis noted that the NPRIP has been in the pipeline from the early 2000s. He said he regrets that it is taking this long to complete.

“Once completed and the roads are handed over to us, my administration intends to have a total review of the roadworks and see how it can be better enhanced for the benefit of businesses and the travelling public.”

Mr. Davis declined to say whether his government still intends to conduct a commission of inquiry into the roadworks. He did talk about the importance of stakeholder involvement, however.
“Total handover of the roads to the Bahamas Government will take place no later than January 31. That is my expectation,” he said.

“The work will be substantially completed by October 31, as the contract requires. What will be happening between then and the 31st of January will be what I call remedial work that is required for the proper takeover by the government.”

The total roadworks is expected to cost over $200 million.

The government recently borrowed an additional $77 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).