PROGRESS is being made to improve parish-owned roads in St Helier – but States roads in town are still in a “in a pretty poor state”, Constable Simon Crowcroft has said.
Businesses have recently complained that a series of major roadworks projects have left some routes gridlocked and were deterring people from visiting town.
Mr Crowcroft, who is also Assistant Infrastructure Minister, said that parish-run projects on Cleveland Road at Havre des Pas as well as Peter Street and Seale Street have recently been completed.
He said that parish roads were now “in a pretty good state of repair” following a “an ambitious programme of repairing and resurfacing parish roads”, although some more projects were in the pipeline.
But the Constable added that main roads, which are States-owned, were “in a pretty poor state at the moment”.
Utilities in Val Plaisant are currently being updated, with resurfacing due once essential work has finished.
The road is scheduled to be closed until 26 April during working hours, and then again from mid-June to mid-July.
The ring road, in particular between La Motte Street and Springfield, was another road “in a terrible state of repair”, Mr Crowcroft added.
Mr Crowcroft acknowledged that Islanders had shown “patience” but that many improvement projects had reflected the concerns that had been raised by parishioners.
He said: “I’m really pleased that the parish has been able to carry out these improvements.
“I’d like to thank Islanders for their patience during the works, and their ongoing patience during the works still to be completed.”
Mr Crowcroft added: “Many of the works being carried out are happening as a direct response to concerns raised by parishioners, and I’d like to thank the St Helier Rates Assembly for supporting these projects.”
Businesses in Gorey also recently voiced concerns about roadworks, describing the past few weeks as “a nightmare”.
They said that although they accept the work, being carried out for Jersey Electricity, was needed, poor signage was resulting in people avoiding the village.
