$1.27B on roads throughout T&T: Warner

Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner told reporters Thursday the People's Partnership government plans to spend $1.27 billion on road repairs and new infrastructure. 

The money is coming from local and foreign loans at interest rates of below one per cent.

Speaking to the media following the weekly cabinet meeting Warner said $519 million will be invested on additions to the Uriah Butler/Churchill-Roosevelt Highway interchange with the rest going to rehabilitation of infrastructure.

“The $750 million will be used to repair roads, fix landslips and landslides and for building retaining walls. The money will be distributed across the country to improve roads and reduce traffic,” he said.

Warner also announced that the French firm Vinci Construction Ltd. has won a two-year contract to build a $519 million interchange at the country's busiest intersection, near the Nestle compound.

"This addition will ease the woes of motorists who use that route,” Warner said.

Drawing of proposed interchange at CH Highway-Solomon Hochoy intersection

Foreign Affairs Minister Surujrattan Rambachan chaired the media conference. He justified the $7.2 billion highway extension from San Fernando to Point Fortin.

“The St Patrick area is one of the most depressed in the country with an average unemployment rate of 26 per cent. By improving infrastructure in the area, we can lower poverty, boost the economy and address social problems," Rambachan said.

“The $2 million allocated for acquiring land for construction of the highway will be reinvested by those people so the economy will be boosted.”

The infrastructure projects will be in 15 constituencies, including eight that are held by the opposition PNM:

• Arima — $16 million;
• Caroni Central — $23 million
• Cumuto/Manzanilla — $25 million
• Diego Martin Central — $28 million
• Diego Martin North East — $13 million
• Diego Martin West — $5 million
• La Brea — $11 million
• Lavantille/Morvant — $6 million
• Lopinot/Bon Air West — $25 million
• Mayaro — $21 million
• Moruga/Tableland — $44 million
• Nariva — $29 million
• Port-of-Spain South — $15 million
• San Fernando East — $30 million
• Tabaquite — $42 million