We have recently been working on the expansion of the culvert crossing the road in Palm Beach, aimed at increasing its capacity to handle a larger volume of water in the area. During the inspection of the existing culvert, it was found to be in a deteriorated state due to concrete degradation, prompting the need for repair. Addressing this issue will take more time due to the additional work required.

To expedite the project, DOW has designed an alternative solution to continue the work. New plans have been prepared for the contractor to replace the existing culvert and install five 800 mm diameter pipes, significantly reducing the time needed for the Elmar, Setar, and WEB cables to be relocated.

To procure the necessary pipes, prices were sought in the Netherlands, with urgent orders placed. However, due to the construction holiday in the Netherlands, the delivery of the pipes is expected to be delayed. The contractor has been requested to order and pay for the pipes, and they are expected to arrive in Aruba by the second week of August. The contractor has been informed that failure to comply with the timeline may result in penalties, as the completion of the culvert works is required by August 28, 2023.

Once the culvert work is completed, road milling and asphalt laying will follow. We aim to keep the Aruban community informed of the latest developments in the RWA Palm Beach project and will provide further updates as they become available.