Press Releases

PRESS STATEMENT

 CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY E. PLASKETT ANNOUNCES SEVEN IMPORTANT GRANTS FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement announcing seven grants totaling $16,315,508.90 recently awarded to the VI Department of Public Works:

“I am pleased to announce that the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works (VIDPW) has received seven grants totaling $16,315,508.90. The grants awarded are as follows:

“$2,810,250.88 in federal funding to the VIDPW for roadway repairs damaged as a direct result of Hurricane Maria. This funding is authorized under Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.  The island suffered damages to portions of five (5) gravel roads in the Mt. Pleasant West community. In response to the event, VIDPW will utilize contract labor services to repair the roads to their pre-disaster design, function, and capacity within the existing footprint per VI DPW roadway standards.

“$5,146,952.42 in federal funding to the VIDPW for repairs to Water Island roadways and other infrastructure damaged. This funding is authorized under Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.  Water Island suffered damages to five (5) roads, a parking lot, and a commuter dock and ramp. There is a Hazard Mitigation Proposal (HMP) to strengthen pavement by replacing the gravel pavement with asphalt pavement, adding geotextile fabric between the aggregate base and subbase, improving stormwater drainage by adding curbs and gutters, or paved waterways to control stormwater run-off to prevent future similar damages. The mitigation measures will control and slow the flow of water run-off to lessen the erosive forces and improve the drainage of the roadbed to reduce moisture content. The mitigation measures will also allow for greater groundwater infiltration and reduce non-point source pollutants.

“$1,328,836.35 in federal funding to the VIDPW for permanent repairs to roadways and other infrastructure under their jurisdiction on St. Croix. This funding is authorized under Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. VIDPW suffered damages to four (4) sites along a roadway (facility) in the La Grange Watershed. The VIDPW will utilize contract services for repairs per VIDPW roadway standards. This project captures additional funding for a Hazard Mitigation Proposal (HMP) to prevent future similar damages by strengthening the pavement structure in areas that would be most prone to having saturated subgrades or in high erosion locations. This would allow pavement in areas of saturated subgrade better to resist damage from heavy truck traffic or resist erosion in areas prone to it. The second proposed mitigation measure is to manage stormwater by improving stormwater drainage to lessen the damaging effect of saturated subgrades and run-off erosive forces. These efforts are applied on a watershed wide basis to both damaged and undamaged elements. The proposed pavement strengthening mitigation actions are to add geotextile under asphalt pavement between the aggregate base course and subbase. The proposed drainage mitigation actions include: grade roadsides to drain or add water bar, add concrete low water crossing, add curb and gutter, or paved waterways, construct new or enlarge existing drainage swales, add stone check dams, increase the size of existing culverts, and add new culverts.

“$1,111,414.17 in federal funding to the VIDPW for repairs to roadways and infrastructure on St. Croix Island. This funding is authorized under Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. The VIDPW sustained damages to the roadways in the Williams Delight Subdivision. VIDPW will utilize contract labor services and (or) force account labor to restore the facilities to their pre-disaster design, capacity, and function per VI DPW roadway standards. Six (6) roads (sites) sustained damages to sections of the roadway components for a total 100 cubic yards (CY) of asphalt surface, and 133 CY of aggregate base. Damages also include 30 signposts, 17 double street signs, 13 stop and single street signs. This project captures additional funding for a Hazard Mitigation Proposal (HMP) to prevent future similar damages by strengthening the pavement structure in areas that would be most prone to having saturated subgrades or in high erosion locations by replacing the gravel pavement with asphalt pavement, or adding geotextile fabric between the aggregate base and subbase material, increasing the size of existing culverts, and adding new culverts to improve stormwater drainage.

“$1,763,006.81 in federal funding to the VIDPW/St Thomas. This funding is authorized under Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. VIDPW sustained damage to three (3) sites on Seaview Road. This created an immediate threat to the health and safety of the general public. In response to the event, the VIDPW will utilize contracts for repairs to the segments of the Frenchman Bay Watershed to restore this facility back to its pre-disaster function and capacity within the existing footprint. To reduce or eliminate future damages, the VIDPW proposed to: Site 2, 3 and 4 - add curb and gutter to uphill side of new roadways; add clearing and grubbing; add roadway excavation; add aggregate base; add temporary traffic control, flagger. Additional mitigation measures include, Site 2 - replacement of embankment with rip rap revetment; remove backfill, select granular; add separation-stabilization geotextile; add placed rip rap; add aggregate base as bedding stone.

“$1,681,743.68 in federal funding to the VIDPW on St. Croix Island for repairs to roadways and infrastructure. This funding is authorized under Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. VIDPW sustained damages to the Hovensa Watershed. This project was written to capture the storm-related Damage Description and Dimension (DDD), Scope of work (SOW), and Cost to repair the facilities to their pre-disaster design, capacity, and function (in-kind) within the existing footprint and per VIDPW roadway standards. Five (5) roads, sustained storm-related damages to 12 sections (sites) of the roadway. Damage includes 176 cubic yards (CY) of asphalt surface, 80 CY of crushed stone base material, and 5 stop signs with posts. FEMA generated a Cost Estimate Format (CEF) calculation using VIDPW provided historical cost data. This project captures additional funding for a Hazard Mitigation Proposal (HMP) to prevent future similar damages by strengthening the pavement structure in areas that would be most prone to having saturated subgrades or in high erosion locations by adding geotextile material between the aggregate base course and subbase material, enlarge culverts, and add paved waterways. The mitigation measure would allow pavement in saturated subgrade areas to better resist heavy truck traffic damage better or resist erosion in areas prone to it.

“$2,473,304.62 in federal funding to the VIDPW for repairs to damaged roadways. This funding is authorized under Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. St. Croix suffered damages to five (5) roadways (facilities) in the Williams Delight neighborhood. The facilities suffered similar damages to multiple sections of 3 inch (IN) deep asphalt road surfaces and 4 IN deep aggregate base material. VIDPW will utilize contract labor services to restore the facilities to their pre-disaster design, capacity, and function per VI DPW roadway standards. The Hazard Mitigation Proposal (HMP) measure adds geotextile material between the aggregate base and subbase for stability and enlarging the culvert from a 36-inch P-1 to 48-inch reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) to improve drainage.”

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