The bids for repaving the North Shore Road are in, the Federal Highway Administration is taking a close look at them and the project should start in October, V.I. National Park Superintendent Mark Hardgrove said Friday at a meeting of the Rotary Club of St. John.
"This project will bring well over $6 million to the territory during difficult economic times for our local contractors," Hardgrove told the nearly 20 people gathered at the Westin Resort and Villas Beach Café for the luncheon meeting.
The park planned to spend about $8.1 million on the project, but Hardgrove said the bids have come in at around $6.5 million. He said this means the park can extend the paving project to include the road behind the park’s Visitors Center and to the intersection on the North Shore Road where the road to Annaberg turns right and the road to Maho Bay Camps goes left.
Most of the four companies that bid on the job were local, Hardgrove said.
In other park news, Hardgrove and Beth Isler, a National Park Foundation transportation scholar on assignment to the park, outlined work being done on developing the park’s transportation plan.
"We’re moving toward a shuttle service provided by local people," Hardgrove said.
The two are now in the listening stage. They’re soliciting input from various sectors of the community including the taxi drivers.
Currently, taxis transport visitors from Cruz Bay to the North Shore beaches, but Hardgrove said he envisions a system where the shuttles will make regularly-scheduled stops along that route.
According to Hardgrove, the taxi drivers will make more money with a shuttle system, and instead of sitting at beach parking areas waiting for fares, they’ll be busy working.
Isler spoke at length about developing the final plan. "I have to continually ask who am I not hearing from and seek those people out," she said.
The planning also includes the development of a steering committee, Isler said. To let her know your thoughts on a park transportation plan, email Isler at beth_isler@partner.nps.gov.
Hardgrove said the shuttle system should help some with the parking problem that frequently has vehicles lined up along the shoulders of the North Shore Road because the parking lots are filled.
The park also has some other projects in the hopper. Hardgrove said the ruins at Lameshur Bay will be rehabilitated for use as a Visitors Center. He said the V.I. Environmental Resource Station, also located at Lameshur Bay, will operate the center.
Bids are out to rehabilitate the park’s piers at Red Hook, St. Thomas, and Cruz Bay Creek and the public restrooms behind the Visitors Center. Hardgrove also said bids are being solicited to repave Francis Bay and to remove exotic vegetation at Annaberg Plantation, Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, the Callahan house, Peace Hill, and other sites.
