Storm Water Mitigation Road Work Is Getting Underway This Week Across Coral Bay Area

The Mill Vista and Centerline Road intersection, above, will be paved as part of CBCC’s ongoing storm water mitigation project.

Don’t be surprised if that drive through Coral Bay takes a little longer than normal in the coming weeks.

Coral Bay Community Council officials announced last week that contractor Carlson Construction will start several roadwork projects from Mill Vista Road to Gerda Marsh Road as part of the group’s storm water maintenance program.

CBCC, along with Estate Fish Bay Homeowners Association and V.I. Resource, Conservation and Development Council, was awarded a multi-million-dollar grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to address storm water issues.

Estate Fish Bay Homeowners Association has already wrapped up paving and swale installation in its neighborhood and VIRCD oversaw the restoration of a gut on St. Croix.

In the Coral Bay area, CBCC is racing against the grant deadline of June 30 to finish all 18 of its planned projects. Road work started last week in some areas of Coral Bay and will last for about a month, according to officials.

While not expecting long closures of any roadways, several neighborhoods in the Coral Bay area might experience limited access, explained CBCC president Sharon Coldren.

“There might be limited road closures in these neighborhoods,” said Coldren. “People should look for signs and ask construction crews for details.”

Paving and culvert work on Gerda Marsh Road, located up the hill from King’s Hill Road, began last week. Carlson will also pave a swale on William Marsh Road, the first road crossing the valley floor on the right after Love City Mini Mart, explained Coldren.

“They’re going to pave a one lane swale near the main gut to help keep water erosion from being caused by the flows of water into the gut along the road,” she said.

Construction crews will also be installing a pipe arch across the gut deeper into the valley, Coldren added.

“If you take that road all the way back to the upper corner below Centerline Road, that is actually 6F and 6G Carolina, we will be putting a pipe arch across the gut there,” said Coldren.

The final paving project commencing shortly is the bottom of Mill Vista Road, the first right along Centerline Road out of Coral Bay traveling toward Cruz Bay.

Crews will be paving the intersection where the road meets Centerline Road, explained Coldren.

“The water will be directed properly into the gut in the Mill Vista area, which will stop mud and rocks from spilling into the roadway,” said the CBCC president.

Residents in the Mill Vista and the Carolina Valley areas are also taking advantage of the opportunity to pave more of their roadways, Coldren added.

“The residents in those areas are coming together to do significant road paving projects of their own which compliment the work we are doing,” she said. “They are spending a lot of time and money and we’re really grateful that they are being full partners in these projects.”

“Department of Planning and Natural Resources has also been very helpful in supporting these projects,” Coldren said.
CBCC officials advised residents in these Coral Bay neighborhoods to talk with homeowners associations and construction crews to be apprised of any limited road closures.

“Keep your eyes out and talk with homeowners associations and construction crews so that everything goes smoothly,” said Coldren. “We appreciate all the cooperation to make these projects run as smoothly as possible.”

Crews will be working on several projects simultaneously and work should wrap up within a month, Coldren added.
For more information on the upcoming road work or CBCC’s other storm water projects, call the group at 776-2099.