PRESS CONFERENCE & CONTRACT SIGNING CEREMONY
MINISTRY OF WORKS AND UTILITIES CONFERENCE ROOM

MINISTER OF WORKS AND UTILITIES & BAHAMASAIR
BRADLEY ROBERTS, MP

HARROLD ROAD DUALLING AND REHABILITATION PROJECT

3:00pm on 13th February, 2004

 
The purpose of inviting you here this afternoon is to inform the Press, and the public at large of the award of a contract for construction of the Harrold Road Dualling and Rehabilitation Project, and for you to witness the signing of the contract.

As I indicated in previous public statements, the proposed widening of Harrold Road was included in the Original New Providence Road Improvemet Project (NPRIP) that was contracted to Associated Asphalt and comprised a part of the overall New Providence Transport Development Plan.  With the termination of the contract with Associated Asphalt and in light of the continually deteriorating condition of Harrold Road and strong public outcry regarding the state of disrepair, my Government took the opportunity to delete this corridor from the NPRIP and to undertake the necessary reconstruction as a Government of the Bahamas project.  The intention is to provide Bahamian contractors with the opportunity to become familiar with - and meet – the   international specifications and standards required on large international projects.  My Ministry carried out the necessary procedures to and obtained the requisite “No Objection” from the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) to proceed.

Qualified Bahamian Contractors were invited to apply for prequalification on the basis of their ability and experience in carrying out projects of comparable size and complexity to Harrold Road, their Financial capability, and on whether they have adequate and appropriate equipment.
Three (3) firms were considered to meet the prequalification requirements and were invited to submit bids.  They were:

1.  Bill Simmons Construction & Heavy Equipment
2. Bahamas Hot Mix
3. Bethell’s Trucking & Heavy Equipment

A detailed analysis of the bids revealed that both Bethell’s Trucking & Heavy Equipment and Bahamas Hot Mix were found to bring specific strengths to the project.  On one hand, Bethell’s Trucking & Heavy Equipment brought strong equipment resources and specific capabilities in carrying out earthworks, concrete works and ancillary type works, having carried out these activities for over many years in the Bahamas.

On the other hand, Bahamas Hot Mix brought equally strong capabilities and proven track record in asphalting and pavement related type works.

Both Bethell’s Trucking & Heavy Equipment and Bahamas Hot Mix have subsequently decided to submit a Joint Venture proposal to carry out the project.  In this Joint Venture, Bethell’s Trucking will carry out the earthwork and concrete components of the project while Bahamas Hot Mix will carry out the asphalting components.  At the same time, both companies will bear full individual and collective responsibility for all aspects of the works.

As Minister of Works and Utilities, on behalf of the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, I am pleased to inform you that Government has accepted this Joint Venture offer from both companies to carry out the project.  I am optimistic that Government will benefit from the strengths that each of these companies bring to the Joint Venture partnership.

Accordingly, as Minister of Works and Utilities and on behalf of the Government of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas, I am also pleased to announce that the contract for the Harrold Road Dualling and Rehabilitation Project is awarded to:

Bethell’s Trucking and Heavy Equipment
& Bahamas Hot Mix – Joint Venture.
in the sum of $5,716,710.20
 
 

The Project includes:
· Reconstruction of approximately 1.5 miles of the existing 2 lanes and construction of 2 additional lanes on the north side of the existing carriageway
· Construction of approximately 0.3 miles of service road between Chapel Drive and Blue Hill Road
· Construction of two roundabouts:  one at Milo Butler Highway/Bethel Ave./Harrold Junction, the other at Yellow Elder way/Harrold Rd.
· Construction of drainage swales, ponds and installation of drainage wells
· Installation of Street Lighting
· Landscaping
· Provision and Maintenance of Traffic Management throughout construction

Preliminary works for the new, northern carriageway will commence immediately, and construction will begin in earnest in shortly.  This carriageway will be constructed first in order to minimize disruption to traffic on the existing carriageway.  The Project is scheduled for completion by February 2005.  However, by Christmas of this year we will have completed the most critical components of the Project, and motorists should start experiencing the benefits of the improvements.

I would like to challenge both of the successful contractors, Bethell’s Trucking and Heavy Equipment and Bahamas Hot Mix to rise to the opportunity, and produce the level of performance that will be required.  Let us show that we have the capabilities right here in the Bahamas, to perform at the highest level.

My Ministry has formed a dedicated team of young enthusiastic Bahamian Engineers who will give the necessary supervision and general oversight of this project.  We have gone the extra mile to train staff in materials engineering, quality assurance and inspection procedures,
to ensure that the project is carried in strict adherence to the specifications.  We will do our part to keep the contractor on the ‘straight and narrow’ path.

I would also like to warn the contractor to be aware that the Bahamian public will be monitoring your activities on site and will be vigilant in reporting any shoddy work or unprofessional conduct during the executing of the contract.  Let me put you on notice that my Government expects this project to be completed on time and within budget.  We must do everything in our power to ensure that the Bahamian people receive value for our money.

Finally, I would like to thank the Bahamian people for their patience and endurance with the deteriorating conditions of Harrold Road over the years.  At long last you can look forward to a pleasant ride along Harrold Road.  Now, thanks to my Government, you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Now that you have waited this long, I must ask that you exercise continued restraint during construction.  Please, obey road markings, flag-persons and road signs.  Exercise restraint and cooperate with the contractor’s site staff.   Let us do our part to ensure that this job is completed safely and expeditiously.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I thank you.

At this time, I would like to invite the principals from the Joint Venture Partnership to sign the contract.