Tweet

 

 

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 26, 2016 (SKNIS): Lighting and other small enhancement features for the newly opened tunnel on the Dr. Kennedy A. Simmonds Highway will be done shortly.

 

Minister of Public Infrastructure, Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd said the tunnel, which was opened last Friday (May 20), is 98 percent complete with the proper markings, sidewalks and reflectors included.

 

“We have already mobilized the contractor and in the next couple of weeks the tunnel will be fully lit,” he said on Wednesday’s (May 25) edition of “Working for You.”

 

Minister Liburd added that a deliberate decision was taken to open the tunnel now, to safeguard travelers.

 

We thought we would make the access available because the diversion road was not the safest one,” he said. That path featured steep inclines, came close to a drop off and had no safety railings.

 

With the opening of the tunnel, drivers can feel more comfortable when traversing the route and not worrying about boulders coming loose and falling, which happened occasionally in the past. In the meantime, traffic officials have strongly urged motorists to use the headlamps on their vehicle when driving through the 130 meter tunnel.

 

-30-