Antigua and Barbuda’s ambitious nationwide road rehabilitation initiative is on track to enter a faster implementation phase, after the government confirmed it is in the final stages of securing a $33 million infrastructure loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
According to official updates presented to the national Cabinet, the multilateral development bank’s financing will be disbursed within just a matter of days, as soon as the last outstanding contractual formalities are completed. This new CDB funding acts as a complementary investment to a previously secured EC$100 million bond that was earmarked specifically for upgrading road networks across both islands of the twin-nation.
On the smaller island of Barbuda, one of the first key projects set to break ground imminently is the rehabilitation of Two Mile Road, a critical transport artery connecting the Barbuda Codrington Airport to River Dock. The construction work for this project is scheduled for an eight-month timeline? No, correction: the complete build is projected to take eight weeks, and the government has appointed an independent third-party monitor to oversee all construction activity to ensure compliance with quality and safety standards.
A single contractor with existing operations and experience working across both Antigua and Barbuda has already been awarded the contract for the initial phase of works, while a slate of additional road segments across Barbuda have already been identified and prioritized for future rehabilitation under the broader program.
Minister of Works Maria Browne emphasized that this infrastructure push represents one of the largest sustained investments in national road infrastructure that Antigua and Barbuda has seen in recent decades. She outlined that the overarching goals of the program extend far beyond paving new surfaces: the upgrades are designed to boost domestic and inter-island connectivity, enhance the road network’s resilience to extreme weather events common to the Caribbean region, and lay the groundwork for broader long-term national economic development.
Cabinet officials noted that they will release regular public updates on project timelines and progress as construction kicks off at sites across both islands, keeping citizens informed of this major public infrastructure initiative.