Government Opens Consultation on Barbuda Road and Wharf Rehabilitation Works

Residents and stakeholders are being invited to scrutinize a series of planning, engineering and environmental reports for a major road rehabilitation project in Barbuda that will upgrade more than 12 kilometres of roads and support the island’s long-term development strategy.

The Ministry of Housing and Works has released several documents for public review under the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan (Hurricane Irma Project), including an Environmental and Social Management Plan, an engineering inception report, a corridor characterization and ranking report, and a social and gender sensitisation study.

The project focuses on six road corridors across Barbuda, including sections of River Road, the Codrington Wharf area, roads serving Sir McChesney George Secondary School, the Green Barbuda Solar Hybrid Power Station, and Burton-Nibbs International Airport. Together, the roads cover approximately 12.6 kilometres and were selected because of their importance to transportation, emergency response, community access and economic development.

According to the environmental management plan, the project forms part of the post-Hurricane Irma recovery effort funded through the Caribbean Development Bank and implemented by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. The report classifies the works as a Category B project, meaning potential environmental and social impacts are expected to be localized and manageable through mitigation measures.

The environmental review identifies several risks that will require monitoring during construction, including impacts on groundwater, water consumption, community health and safety, occupational safety, and sensitive marine and coastal ecosystems around Codrington Lagoon. To address those concerns, planners have proposed erosion controls, drainage improvements, environmental monitoring, waste management procedures and measures to protect archaeological and cultural resources that may be uncovered during construction.

The documents also outline significant climate-resilience measures. Proposed road designs include reinforced concrete pavement capable of withstanding flooding, upgraded culverts, improved drainage systems and geophysical investigations to detect underground voids before heavy construction begins. Officials say these measures are intended to address longstanding problems caused by Barbuda’s flat terrain, poor drainage and vulnerability to flooding.

The corridor characterization report places the road upgrades within a broader vision for Barbuda’s future development. It notes that the island is expected to see increased investment through tourism projects, airport expansion, a new cargo and tourism port, housing developments and renewable energy initiatives. The report argues that stronger road infrastructure will be essential to support those developments while improving mobility for residents and emergency services.

Another document released for consultation focuses on social and gender issues associated with infrastructure projects. The study highlights concerns that large construction projects can create social challenges, including gender-based violence, workplace harassment and unequal access to employment opportunities. It recommends training programmes, workplace policies and safeguards aimed at ensuring women, youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups benefit from infrastructure development.

The report also notes that women remain significantly underrepresented in the construction sector, with employment figures showing 3,419 men compared with only 138 women working in the industry. The consultancy is intended to help government agencies and contractors integrate gender equality and social inclusion into future infrastructure projects.

Construction is expected to take between 18 and 24 months once works commence, followed by a recommended 12-month monitoring period to assess drainage performance and address any residual environmental impacts.

The government is encouraging members of the public to review the documents and submit comments, concerns and recommendations that may assist in shaping the final design and implementation of the project before construction begins.

MORE BELOW FROM DIRECT LINK:

https://environment.gov.ag/2026/06/03/barbuda-road-rehab-envi-review/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSOgZ5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFqVXcwbER1MFhxaXY2cEplc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtmOXBhoYYYc96o-tAOE-XPVdRSbjx5cEc4a8YDZNyGkLdd62Dxt3uRJ8swP_aem_2oSIUuBICUzqUtaciTeDqA

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