The V.I. Department of Public Works is considering a roundabout at the intersection near Cool Out Bar on St. Croix, along with additional guardrails and the installation of thousands of road reflectors, as lawmakers press the department on ways to improve safety along dangerous stretches of the territory’s roadways.
During a meeting of the Senate Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications on Wednesday, Senator Kenneth Gittens asked DPW to explain its “process for identifying most of our dangerous road segments in a territory, prioritizing corrective action, and the interventions that would actually make our roads more safer.” He also asked whether the department had identified “any roads that are concerning to you.”
Highway Program Manager Jomo McClean said DPW regularly receives motor vehicle accident data from the V.I. Police Department and uses that information to identify areas of concern.
Acting Public Works Commissioner Rueben Jennings said the data has helped DPW identify the intersection near Cool Out Bar on St. Croix as one such location. The department is currently exploring “whether or not to do a roundabout,” he said. As a more immediate measure, Jennings has instructed his team to stripe the intersection, with a procurement package for that work expected to be released in early October.
McClean explained that the striping is intended as a short-term measure, while the potential roundabout represents a longer-term approach. DPW is assessing whether roundabout work should be incorporated into a larger bundled project and included within the scope of work for a contractor responsible for undergrounding utilities.
Alternatively, McClean said, DPW could “extract it and do our own separate roundabout design package for several intersections that we've identified.”
Lawmakers also questioned DPW about the use of guardrails in areas where motorists could face steep drop-offs or other hazards. Senator Angel Bolques Jr. said there are locations where he has questioned the absence of protective barriers. “There are certain areas where I drive and I’m like there should really be a guardrail there…because if somebody comes around this corner the wrong way, that could be a problem,” he said.
Bolques referenced an “unfortunate” accident on St. John along a section of road without a guardrail.
Jennings said DPW has a plan for additional guardrails, but explained that property boundaries and rights-of-way can complicate installation. “In some instances, we’re unable to place guardrails because it’s someone’s property and if we place a guardrail there, they won’t have access to it,” he said.
The acting commissioner nevertheless wants DPW to develop the ability to install more guardrails using its own workforce rather than relying exclusively on outside contractors. “When we have to pay these contractors, it’s a costly venture,” Jennings said.
DPW is considering a similar approach for approximately 2,000 road reflectors purchased for installation on St. Croix. The reflectors are intended to improve nighttime visibility, but Jennings said the department is still determining how the installation will be carried out.
DPW is “deciding whether to have the internal staff place those, but we don't have the manpower as yet,” Jennings told lawmakers, adding that the department intends to get “as creative as we can."
