June 29, 2007 — Neighborhood residents and public officials turned out for a roadside ceremony Friday marking the reopening of Frangipani Road.
The restored roadway sits at the intersection of Route 73 and Route 732 and is a major entry and exit way for residents in the area, according to a Government House news release. A temporary bypass had been in place to facilitate the raising of the road as part of the Department of Public Works’ efforts to erect a bridge for drainage and improve the road.
With the bypass blocked for reconstruction efforts, residents were forced to use less convenient roadways in their daily commutes to and from the neighborhood, and faced issues concerning flooding, the release said.
The roadside press conference bought together officials from Public Works along with residents of the Frangipani neighborhood and representatives of the governor’s office, including Public Works Commissioner Darryl Smalls, Assistant Commissioner Roberto Cintron, Deputy Commissioner of Engineering Aloy W. Nielsen, St. Croix Administrator Pedro “Pete” Encarnacion and Special Assistant Ronald Schjang.
“This is an important day for the people of the Frangipani neighborhood,” Encarnacion said. “With this important road restoration, and through the ongoing leadership of the Department of Public Works, residents of the area can once again enjoy a better quality of life, particularly during the rainy season, when flooding is the area has been a concern.”
Added Smalls, “This portion of the roadway is now substantially completed, and will offer some relief to residents in the Frangipani area.”
Nielsen mentioned other other project work still underway in the area.
“Some culvert work and paving is still forthcoming,” he said.
Frangipani resident Ostend Hanson praised the new administration for responding to the neighborhood’s transportation problems.
“Today is a new day to me,” Hanson said. “We have been having flood problems here for years. But now, with a new administration, new things are happening. The government responded well; they are sensitive to the needs of the people, and we appreciate it.”
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