Project Expected to Move Into Solicitation Phase Within 30 to 45 Days
U.S. Virgin Islands – The Virgin Islands Department of Public Works (DPW) announced today that it has secured the final federal permit required for the long-anticipated Veterans Drive Improvement Project, marking a major milestone in advancing one of the territory’s most transformative transportation and waterfront infrastructure initiatives.
The recently issued Department of the Army permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) represents the final regulatory approval necessary for the project to achieve full federal environmental and permitting compliance.
With all major permits and authorizations now secured, the Department anticipates the project will be released for solicitation within the next 30 to 45 days through the Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which will oversee the project’s procurement and construction administration.
“This milestone reflects years of coordination, technical review, and persistence to move a project of this magnitude forward,” said Governor Albert Bryan Jr. “For too long, this project has been discussed as a concept. Today, we are demonstrating that it is moving toward reality. This administration has remained committed to pushing through every regulatory, environmental, and right-of-way challenge necessary to finally deliver this critical investment to the people of the Virgin Islands.”
The Veterans Drive Improvement Project includes roadway widening and reconstruction, drainage improvements, pedestrian enhancements, utility coordination, waterfront infrastructure upgrades, and multimodal transportation improvements designed to improve traffic flow, public safety, resiliency, and accessibility throughout the downtown Charlotte Amalie corridor.
During the upcoming solicitation period, DPW will continue final coordination efforts with the U.S. Coast Guard to cure remaining right-of-way matters associated with the project alignment. Department officials emphasized that these activities are being advanced concurrently with procurement efforts to maintain project momentum.
“This has been an extraordinarily complex effort involving multiple federal agencies, waterfront permitting requirements, environmental coordination, utility considerations, and right-of-way negotiations,” said DPW Commissioner Derek Gabriel.
“In addition to securing the necessary approvals, the Bryan-Roach Administration successfully assembled the funding framework needed to move this project forward, including a $25 million RAISE grant, the 2025 GARVEE issuance, and the historic $125 million CDBG-MIT award. Reaching this point reflects years of persistence and coordination and positions the project to move from long-term planning into implementation.”
The Department also noted the strategic importance of advancing the Veterans Drive project in coordination with planned harbor dredging efforts in Charlotte Amalie, helping ensure long-term operational and economic benefits for the territory’s primary waterfront and port district.
Additional procurement and scheduling details will be released as the solicitation process advances.
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