St. Thomas – The weekly Government House Press Briefing was held at Government House St. Thomas, led by Communications Director Richard Motta Jr. who shared several important infrastructure and community updates, including the announcement of a partnership between the VI Office of Veterans Affairs and Fly The Whale Airlines.
Mr. Motta announced a major step forward in healthcare access for Virgin Islands veterans residing on St. Croix. Through a new partnership between the V.I. Office of Veterans Affairs and Fly The Whale Airlines, non-service connected veterans traveling to Puerto Rico for VA medical appointments will no longer have to pay out-of-pocket airfare.
The arrangement, established through discussions between Veterans Affairs Director Patrick Farrell and the airline, covers both the veteran and a travel companion when medically necessary.
“One of our main priorities has always been to secure better access to VA medical care for our veterans,” said Director Farrell. “This is a significant step in that direction, and we hope to extend the same benefit to veterans on St. Thomas in the near future.”
Eligible veterans must present written confirmation of their VA medical appointments to the Office of Veterans Affairs on St. Croix, where staff will handle travel arrangements.
Road Work on STX
Mr. Motta also highlighted recent progress on St. Croix’s road network and upcoming public works activities, such as the reopening of the Estate Colquhoun Bridge on Midland Road, a milestone which was completed this past week, following final inspections, signage installation, and traffic control checks. The newly reconstructed bridge was engineered to withstand a 50-year storm with a 430 sf waterway opening, enabling stormwater to move more efficiently and reducing flood risk for nearby neighborhoods.
“We appreciate the skilled local men and women whose craftsmanship delivered this safer, stronger bridge project,” Mr. Motta stated.
Communications Director Motta continued the briefing by advising the public of a new road project that began today, Monday, October 20, 2025, affecting St. Croix’s main east-west corridor. For approximately 45 days, Centerline Road will be closed to vehicular traffic between the Sunshine Mall west exit and Carlton, as the Department of Public Works (DPW) and its contractor, VI Paving, Inc., replace a historic box culvert.
The work is a critical drainage improvement to enhance stormwater flow and prevent erosion beneath the roadway.
Motorists can expect a full closure within the work zone, with posted detours, signage, and active traffic control. Residents and businesses adjacent to the project area will maintain emergency access, and DPW will coordinate with anyone needing special access accommodations.
‘This is a short-term inconvenience for long-term reliability,” Mr. Motta said. “By renewing the drainage system now, we protect the roadway, reduce flood risk, and extend the life of this essential route.”
DPW will issue updates throughout the construction window, including any adjustments due to weather or field conditions. Motorists are urged to drive cautiously, allow extra travel time during peak hours, and monitor official channels for real-time advisories.
2026 Brings Construction “Sonic Boom”
Finally, Mr. Motta previewed the upcoming rebuild USVI Industry 2025, hosted by the Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR) next week in both districts. The event begins Monday, October 27, at the Westin Beach Resort on St. Thomas and continues Wednesday October 29, at the University of the Virgin Islands Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix.
The event will connect local contractors and suppliers with the prime contractors leading the Territory’s massive federal funded reconstruction of schools, hospitals, roads, utilities, and other critical infrastructure.
Since the launch of the Rebuild USVI initiative in December 2023, ODR has activated a Super Project Management Office, issued more than 10 major contracts, representing over $7 billion in projects in various stages of design, preconstruction, and mobilization.
These include major facilities such as Charlotte Amalie High School, St. Croix Central High School, Julius E. Sprauve PreK-12 on St. John, the Charles Harwood Medical Center, Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital, and the Myrah Keating-Smith Health Center – the largest public infrastructure investment in St. John’s history.
“Recovery often starts quietly – with funding obligated, designs signed, and steel on order – and then the skyline changes,” Mr. Motta noted. “We’re lining up projects in parallel so that 2026 brings the ‘sonic boom’ of construction everyone has been waiting to see.”
Local businesses interested in participating in Industry Day are encouraged to register by Wednesday, October 22, 2025, with priority given to small local firms.
Leave a Reply