Housing and Works Minister Maria Browne has pledged that road construction across Antigua and Barbuda will intensify following the upcoming general election, citing a planned $100 million investment and significantly expanded capacity within her ministry.
According to Antigua News Room, Browne made the remarks during a "Know Your Candidate" interview, where she pushed back firmly against suggestions that the current surge in roadworks is a temporary, election-driven phenomenon. She described the programme as part of a deliberate, long-term national strategy.
"The best is yet to come," Browne said, adding that the level of activity currently visible on roads across the country will be "amplified" once full funding is in place.
The minister said the government has already bolstered its operational capacity by engaging approximately 70 contractors and investing in its own fleet of heavy-duty equipment. She noted this reduces reliance on rentals and allows multiple projects to advance simultaneously.
Browne also highlighted significant cost reductions as a driving factor behind the programme's expansion. She said the price of constructing concrete roads has been brought down sharply from earlier figures.
"When I first got into works, the cost per square foot was about $18… and we hammered it all the way down to 960," she said, framing the reduction as a means of stretching public funds further and accelerating delivery.
The pending $100 million loan, she said, will enable the government to scale up roadworks nationwide, covering major and secondary roads as well as community routes that have gone years without adequate infrastructure investment.
Among the projects expected to benefit are Anchorage Road Phase 2, Jonas Road, and key connecting routes in St. John's. Browne indicated that works will be carried out both during the day and at night to speed up completion timelines.
"You're going to see more roadworks happening not only in the day but also in the night," she said.
Addressing concerns about whether the current pace is sustainable, Browne said additional staffing and stronger quality control systems are being put in place to ensure durability and maintain standards as the programme grows.
She was emphatic that the present level of road activity is the product of careful planning, not short-term electoral calculation.
"It's not by osmosis… it is a plan that has been in action for a long time, and it is a plan that is working," Browne said.
The general election is scheduled for April 30.
