The stretch of West Bay Road near Public Beach and the former Courtyard by Marriott has been officially discontinued as a public road, starting today. At the same time, an initial component of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway extension has been declared as a new public road.
The notices appear in an extraordinary issue of the Cayman Islands Gazette in relation to decisions made by Cabinet today, 13 March.
The closure of a section of West Bay Road and extension of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway are part of the broader For Cayman Investment Alliance agreement between the Dart Group and government.
The road closure enables Dart to redevelop the former Courtyard hotel. As part of the exchange, Dart is also creating a new public beach park area, and is turning the section of closed road into a network of trails for cyclists and pedestrians.
The Caymanian Compass has requested information from Dart about when the old road will physically close and when the new highway will physically open.
Nothing about a potential closure date was forthcoming on Wednesday afternoon, but the company did make a statement.
“Dart Realty has been informed that the Cayman Islands government has gazetted the opening of Phase One of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway Extension and the phased closure of a section of West Bay Road,” the statement read. “This important milestone has been made in accordance with the Roads Law, as agreed in the terms of the National Roads Authority Agreement.
“The publishing of the gazettes means the road changes are now in legal effect and Dart Realty is now seeking advice from the National Roads Authority to determine the physical works schedule.”
The road closure, declared according to Section 14 of the Roads Law, allows Cabinet to close a public road upon the recommendation of the National Roads Authority.
In August 2012, the Roads Authority Board of Directors formally approved a motion to recommend closing the section of West Bay Road and gazetting the Esterley Tibbetts Highway extension.
According to the Gazette, the sections of the West Bay Road corridor will be added to neighbouring property parcels, for no monetary consideration.
Please read more in upcoming editions of the Compass.
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Glad to see it happen!
Thank goodness that we can put this distraction to rest and focus on the more serious problems within the country.
At the very least the roadway seem to be properly engineered. If you look at all of the bypass roadways done one the island, most function quite well, all except that marl road they call a bypass in Bodden Town. Large trucks and all of the traffic from the eastern districts still roll through the narrow streets of the old capitol.
But what is Bodden town, a town that government forgot, just someplace to dump garbage, house prisoners, and rehab the rest of the islands drug addicts.
Bodden towners! vote for Greg Anderson, he is no push over.. We need district affiliation not party affiliation, the politician just come through the large voting block of bodden Town and split up all of the votes. You need to field four bodden town candidates not by party, but by appreciation for your district. Half PPM and Half UDP leaves you with half of nothing in the way of representation. Until they have a national election for the premiere, district representation should be our concern, too long we have towed the national agenda while the rest of the districts improve and progress.
How important is it to not have the dump put in Bodden Town, if it is important that bodden town not be used as a dump, then insure the candidate you vote for will fight against it being put in Bodden town.
They can build a refuse to energy plant right where the dump is now! Get it done, stick together, just look at the position that they place your representatives.. Four reps on the same ticket if you care about your district, don’t let them split you up.. For all the people who have relocated to bodden town from other districts, and there are many, Bodden town is now your district and you must be faithful to her. West bay I commend you for the good fight to save that historic piece of road, most times you have to crack a few eggs if you are going to make a cake. Just hope we will all have a slice when it is baked, even if you have to elbow yourself in at your own table.
Greg Anderson may or may-not share many of my views, but I can tell you from my knowing him I share many of his, as a no nonsense, get it done right the first time manager, stern but fair.
This has to be one of the most disgusting things that the powers-that-be in Govt, could have done to the Caymanian people in exchange for cutting crabs, mosquitos, sandflies, horseflies and horse burrs (Barkers). Thank you, thank you very much, Obviously it’s only millionaires who deserve a view of MY 7 Mile Beach. It’s very, very sad to see what money would make you do. Selling your country and to see the RUSH to get this done BEFORE election is nothing short of an uppercut to each of the 4000 plus petitioners of the road closure. What this Govt, along with the previous Premi didn’t give away, no one wanted. Congratulations, you all have done us proud, BRAVO! BTW many of our tourists have also asked if they could sign the petition. I trust that when we get that hurricane (for the same reason we got Ivan, corruption) that the For Cayman Alliance Group along with their little Puppets who we the people elected will stick it out with us. Jehovah doesn’t like ugly.
How much did this cost Dart and much is his gain? Follow the money !
Guess I’ll have to find another route to buy my ganja (strictly for medical reasons).
Of course, you won’t see it now, wait a couple years. Then they’ll start charging our kids Grand Kids 25 dollars park then 100 dollars rent your own space on beach. #1 one rule of a business, make a profit #business101. As usual you won’t see the grand design until due course, just like the 10 story mega hotel which wasn’t planned. Like those plans were drawn up in one day, looks like Cayman will become a new panama and look at their economy now.
West Bay Road no longer a public road
Posted by Southernboy on 3/14/2013 6:51:15 AM
How much did this cost Dart and much is his gain? Follow the money !
First I must say that I think the road closeure on West Bay is going to work out good. When there is Northwesters, then people wont have to worry about getting to George Town. I also believe the Dart Foundation is going to make something that the Island will be proud of. Cannot take it from the man, but when he do something he do it good. Now in the same breath keeping up todate with election and its want-to-be Mla’s for different districts, I must say Cayman-on-guard I have heard the district of Bodden Town is having mixed emotions about independent candidates. By my understanding it would seem that most persons are using the Dump for a political football to win votes, it is obvious verbal manifesto, and after speaking with many people from that district, it seems like most of them are not concerned about where they put a Dump but more concerned that people in the district are suffering because they have no job, their homes need repairs, and the Town has been ignored by all governments. Complaints from persons in the district of Bodden Town has been that;, The PPM did nothing, the UDP did nothing, and the now intrim Government has wasted time with many promises and little achievement. The new independent candidates by what I can understand Cayman-on-guard is only extensions. You are asking the people of Bodden Town to support Greg Anderson, but I am made to understand that majority of the Bodden Town people do not know who is Greg Anderson. If he is from that district I would suggest he make himself known. After speaking with many person from that district Bodden Town, I am told that the people will not be relying on promises as they did before, So I would suggest that according to live information all candidates will need to get their pick and showel and begin digging in peoples back yard to find out what is being said.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
It’s about time this got done! Whoever gets the dump moved will get my vote! As for the Dump, I will be happy to see it capped and converted to something we can be proud of and a new waste facility built in Bodden Town. Those who are obstructionists should be ashamed of themselves! It was all fine as long as your garbage was going to GT right? Shame on you!