The $63M island-wide road repair and resurfacing programme by the Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities (DIPU) of the Tobago House of Assembly, which was launched at the end of January, has resumed in western Tobago.

Assistant Secretary in the Division Assemblyman Handel Beckles said the DIPU is aware that the works are creating some inconvenience to pedestrians and motorists alike. He is asking the public to exercise patience “because this is for the improvement for the entire island”.

Beckles told reporters at Wednesday’s weekly post Executive Council media briefing at the Calder Hall Administrative Complex that designs for the three bridges on Milford Road between Lambeau and Lowlands have been completed and will soon go out for tender.

He added that State-owned Nidco (National Infrastructure Development Company) will undertake the work.

In addition, Beckles said the new Bailey bridge for Station Road, Roxborough is here and will be installed by the end of this month.

“The use of this bridge will ease traffic along the Windward Road, Roxborough,” he said.

A temporary bridge was installed there at the end of January to ease the flow of traffic and for the convenience of masqueraders for Carnival.

“We are doing an extensive amount of work but because of the recessionary times we are not able to do all at the same time,” he said.

Beckles also had good news for commuters using public transport on the island.

He said the Chinese engineers who have been repairing the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) buses at the Shaw Park garage have ordered spare parts for 13 buses, which should be received shortly. Once the repairs are completed, the PTSC fleet will be extended to 45 buses.

This, Beckles said, would result in improved PTSC services to Tobago.