New Drainage Solutions Planned for Flood-Prone Roads
Engineers from the Ministry of Public Works are set to redesign a flood-prone section of Friars Hill Road to improve stormwater runoff and prevent recurrent road damage, government officials announced during Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing.
The 500-foot segment near Woods Mall, which has deteriorated rapidly since its reconstruction, will be the focus of immediate intervention. According to Chief of Staff Lionel Hurst, the poor drainage design in this high-traffic area has led to repeated water accumulation and surface erosion, particularly during heavy rains.
“To prevent further failures, engineers will implement underground drainage infrastructure similar to what was used at the Antigua Recreation Grounds,” Hurst said. “We’ve dealt with water pooling issues before—smart engineering can fix it.”
The solution involves installing subsurface pipes and directing runoff away from the road into nearby streams or ponds. Officials believe this approach will prevent water from settling on the road’s surface, where it currently weakens the asphalt and contributes to pothole formation.
In the short term, the government will use high-strength concrete to temporarily fill the worst-affected sections, while the Ministry develops a more comprehensive design.
The decision comes after sustained complaints from motorists and businesses along Friars Hill Road, which is one of the island’s busiest commercial corridors. The road also serves as a key route for heavy-duty trucks servicing industrial zones and the West Indies Oil Company, further compounding wear and tear.
Hurst acknowledged that previous repairs—often limited to patching—had not held up. “This time, we are going for a permanent engineering solution, not cosmetic fixes,” he said.
The government also indirectly criticised the original contractor, Bahamas Hot Mix, which was selected by the Caribbean Development Bank as part of a UK-funded road rehabilitation project. Hurst noted that the CDB’s contractor selection process, not the government’s, determined who handled the original roadworks.
“This stretch of road was poorly constructed from the outset,” he added. “We’re now left with the task of making it right.”
While no specific timeline has been provided for the completion of the new drainage system, Hurst confirmed that work will begin immediately on the most urgent repairs to ensure public safety.
Other flood-prone roads across the island may be assessed in the future using similar methods, but for now, the focus remains on stabilising Friars Hill Road and restoring public confidence in the nation’s infrastructure planning.
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While you’re at it, please fix the 2 areas on American Road that have been flooding for generations
While you’re at it, please fix the broken glass on the bus shelters .. please and thank you..
The first 7 words of this Press Release already tells us that this will be yet another failure and monumental waste of tax payers hard earned money
“Engineers from the Ministry of Public Works”. Honestly have we seen any road works from Public Works over the past 40 years that give any indication either that Public Works has any engineers or that they have even a tiny bit of competence? Please give us a break.
After all that time and money fixing the whole of Friars Hill Road years ago? Why the contracted company didn’t realise how to fix the area? It’s like we love to waste money in this country