Asphalt resurfacing to repair sections of the carriageway continues on Valley Road, near the entrance of Ffryes Beach.

The Antigua and Barbuda government is making an additional EC$20 million available to support roadworks across the country, as the Ministry of Works accelerates its infrastructure programme ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November.

Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said Thursday that Cabinet was informed the additional funding is expected to become available shortly.

Merchant later confirmed that the EC$20 million will come from the $87 million recently negotiated with a consortium of local banks.

The additional money comes as the Ministry of Works carries out resurfacing, milling, cutting and patching on priority roads.

Cabinet was told that, because of the limited time before the Commonwealth meeting, the ministry is targeting sections of roads based on their condition rather than attempting to completely reconstruct every roadway.

Work has commenced from the Hodges Bay-Sunsail area towards Anchorage, while other priority corridors are also undergoing milling and patching. Work is continuing in the English Harbour and Dockyard area, while attention is also being given to roads and drainage in St. John’s.

Merchant said Cabinet has also approved support for additional equipment and materials to speed up the programme.

Crews are expected to work six days a week, along with overtime, with roads around major meeting venues and routes expected to be used by visiting delegations receiving priority.

The wider road programme is expected to expand across Antigua and Barbuda after the priority work for the Commonwealth meeting is completed.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda Government to Spend Additional $20 Million on Roadworks.