Workers digging the trench for underground cabling on Paramiraweg.
ST. EUSTATIUS--Work on the installation of underground cabling has caused the temporary closure of Paramiraweg from Paper Corner store to 318 nightclub in Oranjestad, St. Eustatius, until Saturday, June 27.
A temporary detour via Cottageweg has been created until Paramiraweg is reopened. Cottageweg has temporarily been turned into a two-way street. All traffic entering Oranjestad will have to make use of Fort Oranjestraat and Sandy Road.
Statia Construction workers dug a trench for the cables on Paramiraweg on the night of Tuesday, June 23. They worked late into the night under bright floodlights to ensure the project finished in a timely manner, to cause as little disruption to the public as possible.
Statia received funding for the installation of underground cables from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF). Because the island is situated in an area where hurricanes are prevalent, the project is to safeguard the continued availability of electricity and communication during the passing of a hurricane.
The project includes the underground installation of not only electrical cables, but also fibre-optic cables. The project also reduces the cost for local utility company STUCO and telecommunication company EUTEL, which no longer will have to repair or replace overhead wiring due to strong winds and flying debris.
Underground cabling has already been installed in several other areas in Statia in previous years.
