Three new bridges will be constructed along the Old Milford Road near Scarborough starting at the end of this month (June 2015), Secretary of Infrastructure and Public Utilities Councillor Gary Melville disclosed on Wednesday (May 27, 2015).

The THA has contracted NIDCO for its procurement, project management and all technical consultancy services, which will cost roughly $21 million per bridge. NIDCO is expected to start preparations for the bridge nearest to the Scarborough Abattoir, where some piling work has already been done.

Melville’s Division signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NIDCO on April 27 to manage the construction.

Also on the Division’s list of projects is a comprehensive road signage programme, which the Secretary expects to begin next week. This is in keeping with the Division’s focus on road security for all users in Tobago, and will add enhanced aesthetic value to the island. This programme, he said, will also benefit the emergency services and entities like TTPost and the Public Health Department.

Melville said requests for proposals were sent out in January. Two of the five companies that applied were selected to provide 1,115 street signs across the island, including safety, regulatory, directional and information signs. The new street signs will feature silver-white lettering on a green background, as opposed to the current blue background, to improve visibility. The safety signs, however, will remain the same.

Also due to start next week is the three-month Scarborough road traffic survey being conducted by the Caribbean Transportation Consultancy Services Limited.

Melville said the firm will be collecting data around Scarborough, which it will use to create a traffic plan for the town and other parts of Tobago to alleviate its traffic problems.

“We know traffic is a major problem in Tobago so we want to look at certain key things, such as the operation of the sea port and how it impacts on traffic flow, because we are seeing an increase in traffic,” Melville said.