A proposed $49 million extension of the Diego Martin Highway will result in the relocation of residents, but the Government is prepared. So said Works Minister Emmanuel George as he announced new highway and road projects, costing $91 million, for the west at yesterday's post-Cabinet media briefing. The exact route of the extension of the highway had not yet been determined but was expected to follow the path of the existing highway along the banks of the Diego Martin River, George said. He said: "Yes, there will be some relocation. You are going to meet people on the banks of the Diego Martin river and we will have to try to acquire those lands from them. "We expect that you are going to find lands that people own there and expect we will have to do some negotiating with them to acquire those properties." The minister was asked if the Government has learnt from the protest against the construction of the San Fernando to Point Fortin Highway by the Highway Re-route Movement. In response, he recalled the Guayamare protesters who blocked the construction of the Solomon Hochoy Highway years ago.
He added: "For years people had to make a detour at Guayamare before the highway was straightened. "The country is accustomed to these kinds of things and normally finds solutions. "We will take proactive measures to deal with the people (in Diego Martin) in a humane manner." George said Cabinet decided to extend the Diego Martin Highway in the context of the Government's continuous review of highway and road infrastructure and existing traffic conditions. It was agreed the extension would be constructed from Wendy Fitzwilliam Boulevard to the Diego Martin Main Road, the minister said. Cabinet also agreed to the construction of a vehicular overpass crossing the Diego Martin Highway, near Powder Magazine, and related road improvements, he said. The construction of the overpass was estimated to cost in the region of $42 million, he said.
