Dear Governor deJongh and DPW Commissioner Smalls,
We have not wanted to be alarmist about the crumbling of Centerline Road Route 10 (caused by TS Otto, Oct 2010) as it enters Coral Bay, St. John, USVI, threatening the community’s only paved, federally funded, access road.
But it is too late now. We are raising the alarm. The roadway is now — each day — crumbling more as traffic, including heavy water trucks and construction equipment, rumbles through here, obeying the current one-way status.
These two pictures, taken Sunday, June 9, at 1:30 p.m. show that even “one way status” is rapidly being eroded away. People are approaching me — and I expect you — with their grave concerns.
In addition, the flashing light sign donated by the National Park ceased to work at all mid-week. The one way signage is poor. All of us who have been patient with realities of the government’s financial and staff situation are about to witness a preventable tragedy or, at the least, a serious economic inconvenience.
Please note we still have a lot of tourism happening now and all summer — income for the whole territory. As I took these pictures, three rental jeeps went by.
Fixing this portion of Route 10 to repair the damage from Hurricane Otto almost three years ago needs to take emergency status now. Mostly this is Federal funds, but the funding sources and contracting rules can’t be the lead driver — or rationale for delay — any more.
This is a genuine emergency that now must be dealt with in a matter of days or even hours, in order to prevent Coral Bay, St. John from being cut off from normal paved road access. There are also other known spots on the road that are almost as dangerous, and threatening to collapse at any time, as we enter rainy season.
Please take the necessary actions immediately to stabilize the road, to protect life and property and the economy.
And let us know what we can do to help escalate this to immediate action, and keep our community safe.
Sincerely,
Sharon Coldren, President CBCC
