Road threatens hundreds of acres of pristine habitat

| 10/03/2022 | 141 Comments
Proposed road with Protected Areas and Central Mangrove Wetlands

(CNS): Plans for a ten-mile long, 160ft wide stretch of multi-lane highway that will extend the East West Arterial from Woodland Drive to Frank Sound Road will see the removal of more than 174 acres of undisturbed habitat. If the road goes ahead it poses a threat to more pristine natural environment as it traverses across wetlands and forest.

The National Roads Authority has now issued an invitation for experts to conduct an environmental impact assessment for the controversial road that is plagued with environmental problems.

This EIA will review the second and third sections of this road, and the selected consultant will assist the National Roads Authority in determining where alignment-shifts or other refinements would benefit the project by eliminating, minimising or mitigating environmental resource impact.

“A key objective of the EIA is to ensure that the road design selected offers the best outcome for the environment as well as for surrounding communities,” the documents posted on the government’s procurement website state.

But this project is fraught with potential environmental challenges, posing a direct threat to the pristine habitat that will be destroyed to make way for the asphalt highway, as well as to the freshwater lens and the surrounding wetlands.

The road extension will dissect the Central Mangrove Wetlands, described as the ecological heart of Grand Cayman, and will pose a new flood risk to many communities, which will be exacerbated by sea-level rise. It will also release a significant amount of carbon currently sequestered deep inside the peat soil occupied by the various mangrove species.

It poses a threat to endemic and native flora and fauna, including endangered and culturally important species, such as the Cayman parrot and many other birds.

The direct impacts from the construction and the indirect post-construction impacts, such as noise, vibration, lighting and air quality, along the highway will also be important factors for consideration.

The alignment options for some areas of the road will also be critical, especially relating to the primary forest habitat around the Mastic Trail, land which belongs to the National Trust, the DoE said in a recent scoping document about the proposed project.

The proposed route could see the Central Mangrove Wetland deprived of water, “resulting in adverse ecological consequences associated with the fundamental disruption to the hydrological regime that supports” the wetland.

If the water cannot flow to this critical area of wetland, it could then flood populated areas to the south of the proposed road, which over an extended period of time would kill mangrove areas on that side of the highway, as they would be unable to survive excessive inundation, the DoE experts warned.

The DoE’s scoping exercise also examined the broad justifications given by the NRA for the road. This is to improve traffic flow from the Eastern Districts and provide an alternative route to the coast road, and even more controversially, to open up the central areas for more development.

The EIA is expected to direct the project towards the most environmentally friendly route but the assessment will also include a review of the ‘do nothing scenario’.

As part of the EIA process, the public will be invited to take part and the consultants will be expected to hold public meetings. However, following what appears to be the third and final attempt by the NRA to open the bidding, after two previous tenders were removed from the website, Planning Minister Jay Ebanks, who is responsible for roads and infrastructure, along with representatives for the NRA will be hosting a public meeting in Ebanks’ North Side constituency this evening, Thursday 10 March, at 7:30pm.

See the documents and image showing possible alternative routes in the CNS Library


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Category: development, Local News

Comments (141)

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  1. Green Hornet says:

    It ain’t rocket science…… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMUlR38rOzc

  2. Bobo Fett says:

    Until the clusterf**k of Grand Harbour is actually corrected, none of the roadway expansions make sense unless you own property in the way ans stand to be handsomely compensated.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Watching “The Parisian Agency: Exclusive Properties” – on Netflix. Season 2, The Caribbean island Saint Barth.
    Watching and comparing it to Grand Cayman-why was Grand Cayman never turned into an exclusive preserve for rich and famous choosing instead to become a concrete wasteland of haphazardly built buildings of all types and styles for non-eco-friendly crowd?

  4. Anonymous says:

    In stead of a multi lane road, I was going to suggest 3 lanes like the Lions Gate bridge and viaduct in Vancouver that moves a tremendous amount of traffic daily but… We are not responsible enough to be trusted to stay out of a closed centre lane.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Yes it would be wonderful to ride in an air-conditioned bus with wifi or TV, on a published schedule, but if it is driven by a Jamaican, I am not getting on it! The other half of the equation is to have regulated drivers with a public service vehicle license or something similar like they have in Europe.

  6. Anonymous says:

    To everyone saying “build pillars” or “build a bridge”. You still need to damage the wetlands in order to do those things….

    • ThIs WrItInG Is VeRy IrRiTaTiNg says:

      The road is needed. Putting it on pilings is not a perfect solution, it’s a compromise to minimise the damage to the wetlands. Building it above the wetlands has to be better than simply bulldozing everything in the path, removing the soil and filling with marl.

    • Anonymous says:

      But at least in the end the animals will still have free passage underneath the structure if it was built on pillars.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Build this asap.

    + less traffic
    + more housing options
    – it will take forever if we drag our feet

  8. Anon1 says:

    Widen the main roads and buy out homes if you have to. That’s all you need to do.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Why do we not see the NRA Board minutes anymore?

  10. CayBrew says:

    BUY OUT PROPERTIES ALONG SIDE EXISTING MAIN ROADS WE HAVE NOW. This is very simple. We don’t need a new highway cutting through the heart of Cayman. Buy properties along side the main road. Government has the money.

  11. Mikey says:

    Once this highway is built there will be clearing of our Central Wetlands in hopes to attract foreign nationals to live in foam cement filled homes all destroying the wetlands and natural habitat, this is so obvious.

  12. Sky Pie says:

    Any eastern bypass needs to lead to a causeway running from Duck Pond across North Sound to Camana Bay. With an off ramp to ORIA.

    Ask Uncle Ken. He’ll build it for free.

  13. Anonymous says:

    We have to decide what we want in the Cayman Islands. We can’t keep expanding the population without building the infrastructure necessary to support that expansion. I have for many years been asking for an open an honest discussion about what we want for ourselves and the price that we are willing to pay for it.

  14. Anonymous says:

    My apologies if this is a stupid question or if I missed the answer elsewhere but I do not see where this roads ends, where it comes out..

    I assume from other comments that it comes out before the Hurley’s roundabout. So I don’t see where this will alleviate the congestion as has also been pointed out in other comments.

    • Anonymous says:

      That’s the point my friend. You can’t see the end, be CIG can’t see the end of any plan they implement.

  15. Anonymous says:

    We need this road, anyone who lives east can say it is a nightmare going to town. But we need to think of another way that doesn’t harm our environment. What about a bridge that goes over the wetlands? Or better yet, start investing in a modern public transport system that will persuade people to stop using their cars! Look at Bermuda!

    • Anon says:

      You’re missing a vital point. Look in the next to last paragraph: “open up the central areas for more development”.

      Now look who owns the land near the new road.
      And now you see why we need the bypass……

      • ThIs WrItInG Is VeRy IrRiTaTiNg says:

        The road is needed but should be done to minimise the damage to the wetlands and no further development should be done in those areas.

  16. Anonymous says:

    Need to do something about all those Cars on the road. Make it harder to own a car with higher import duties and stop inspectors passing those junk cars thats not road worthy. And get better bus services.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Why not build a road on pillars over the land? That way, wildlife won’t be affected as much and less clearing and fill is required.

    • Anonymous says:

      And the EIA will give such options where warranted.

    • Anonymous says:

      You mention the most appropriate, practical and environmentally sustainable option. But this option might be struck off the shortlist especially if it doesn’t provide certain people with a “cut”. I wonder how many senior CS people and politicians have a stake in the aggregate business?
      Elevating the road might be a faster and more resilient option if precast road sections incorporated integral electricity, water and comms conduits. And at least flooding wouldn’t be an issue.
      The big risks are variable subsurface conditions and piling costs. Unless special equipment can be brought in to do the piling from the the elevated road sections as they go along all the habitat along the road corridor would be destroyed anyway.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Build a bridge over part of it to force any storm surge back into the mangroves on each side or even a few intermittent hills.

    Or better yet, figure out the Hurley’s bottleneck disaster that any new roads will funnel into in the first place before taking on a new project.

  19. Anonymous says:

    Say NO to the road.

    If Seven Miles Oversea Highway to Florida Keys was possible, I bet a bridge over protected areas in Cayman should not be that difficult to build. OVER THE LAND is THE ONLY way to go.

  20. Anonymous says:

    You might be surprised to learn that the Ironwood Forest remains under threat from road expansion too.

    On April 16, 2008 the late Lois Blumenthal wrote to the Compass: “A road will soon be built through the Ironwood [Heritage] Forest behind UCCI. … I urge everyone to add their voice to mine and let government know that you support conserving this national treasure. If the Cabinet and the MLAs don’t hear from the voting public, they will assume that no one cares.”

    There followed the then most successful outpouring of public opposition to a proposed environmental and cultural disaster.

    But the road plans were only shelved, not abandoned.

    And so we now see the NRA issuing notice of declaration of intent to acquire land to resume the march into the heart of the Ironwood Forest. By opening an access road as part of the Bobby Thompson / Lindford Pierson roundabout reconstruction.

    Apparently NRA and Cabinet believe it is in the public interest to reset the wrecking ball rolling into the only remaining habitat in George Town that supports the endemic Ghost Orchid and Old George bromeliad, two among many unique species of Caymanian wildlife in that extraordinary site.

    Much of the land subject to the Roads Law, Section 3 notice made by Cabinet on November 30, 2021 and published in the Compass on December 17, 2021 and subsequently, will be used for the roundabout and to ensure that the equestrian centre will not be disturbed. The same cannot be said of the future disturbance to the IWF if the sections of parcels 14D104Rem1, 15C24Rem1 and pars of parcels to their northwest become the gateway into the forest and its supporting wetland.

    There is no objection process under the Roads Law. There is no invitation to the public for input. The notice is a bald statement of intent. Now is the time to make your voice heard again regarding Boundary Plan 615.

    In 2008 detrimental actions had already been taken before the public was made aware of the imminent dangers. It might still be years before the next step is taken, but now is the time to register your opposition. Do not allow them to say – “but you had full notice”.

    • Anonymous says:

      Well it’s not like anyone can enjoy it for walks picnics etc. might as well put a road through it then we can get to see this ironwood forest. Something has to give. Fairbanks road has become a main thoroughfare with heavy vehicles and boy racers through a residential area, not to mention the wheelie motorcycles.

      • Anonymous says:

        Therein lies one of the problems. The public has no idea of just how unique these areas are. The Ironwood forest should have been placed under protection years ago. Sadly, the only was to find out about Cayman’s incredible endemics is if one is curious enough to seek it out oneself. Successive governments have not seen fit to educate the public about our endemic flora and fauna. I have heard it said that we have greater biodiversity here than the renowned Galapagos Islands do. What a pity so many will never know this.

        • Anonymous says:

          I went in search of it the last time, but no public access. If we are going to protect vast areas of the island then we need to limit the population, can’t have it both ways.

    • Anonymous says:

      There must be a way to object to this road. How did the horse centre manage to get the road moved? I heard they got an injunction? Anyone know who the lawyer was that managed to do this? I may have need of him or her.

      • Anonymous says:

        Since the other side of the road across from the stable is just raw land, scooting the road over by 50 ft. Was a no-brainer

  21. Somecommonsense345 says:

    Why is it so hard for any government to just build a highway above the wetlands? This would make the whole process suitable for all parties and it would also be a great idea to connect Rum Point, Northside, Northward, Bodden Town, Industrial Park GT, Camana Bay & West Bay over the North Sound (sea) to the highway road system with all areas having connecting east and west feeder roads. This simple highway would be cheaper to build, environmentily friendly,as it would be built on columns about 20-25 feet high, therefore leaving vast areas of the sea, wetland, swamps, natural habitats, the fresh water lense, natural ponds, and mangroves untouched and ultimately and well protected. So all we need in these islands are some people with common sense and a little common thinking. Now can someone start with this idea and run with it??

    • Anonymous says:

      So the columns just magically appear without touching the surrounding area?

      • Anonymous says:

        They have less of a footprint than a road.

        • Anonymous says:

          Even with the initial clearing of vegitation for the pillars, the vegetation will grow back. Once a road is laid, the vegetation is lost indefinitely.

          • Anonymous says:

            Here in Louisiana we have lots of causeways over wetlands. Nothing grows directly under them for lack of light. They do allow natural water flow and are more stable than a surface road. They are also a lot more expensive than surface roads. Yoou will need a casting plant to make the roadway sections and then you have to float or drag them to their final locations. You will need some big portable molds to cast the columns in place and then hoist the roadway sections on top. It’s not high tech but a lot of work.

        • Anonymous says:

          Not in the building process Bobo! What’s destroyed, is destroyed. Sheesh… Can’t fix st….

      • alaw says:

        10:12 Sound like your house is touching nothing!

    • Anonymous says:

      That’s a great idea in theory but no way possible in real life without destroying whats below at the same time as construction…

    • Anonymous says:

      7:26 You did not mention the main Ingredient!

  22. Anonymous says:

    Everything in life is a trade off. CNS, DOE, you’re worried about the carbon released when building the road? What about the carbon (and toxic fumes) release by thousands of cars running at a stop for hours every single day of the week. (Not to mention the stress to the occupants and waste of time for them)
    Try stepping off your high horse and seeing things from a different perspective. Maybe then we could get development that is more environmentally friendly…..

    CNS: A different perspective is an excellent idea. How about, instead of continuing the constant cycle of building more and more roads for more and more cars, work seriously about achieving less traffic. A proper public transportation system would fix the problems you highlight, a solution that actually works without ultimately making things worse while destroying the environment. Is that a high horse? Weird you would think so.

    • Anonymous says:

      So we can’t have environmentally friendly development because conservationists are on a high horse? Really? weapons-grade victim-blaming right there.

    • Anonymous says:

      CNS. No one will take a bus if it’s stuck in traffic!! And especially if you’re going to be late to work.

      Come on, stop spreading fear on this topic!! You write as if it’s total destruction.

      Why aren’t you worried about the few remaining patches of mangroves on WB road??!!

      CNS: Ignoring the whataboutism and the equally tiresome buzzwords…
      1) If people are stuck in traffic anyway, I’m sure many would rather be in a bus with wifi reading, getting on with their work or watching Netflix than getting stressed out driving.
      2) If enough people take the bus, there would be less traffic, that being the point. Duh! You can encourage this by introducing bus lanes where possible so that people are less likely to be late if they take the bus.

      • Gg says:

        lol … I believe having a car can be a PRIDEFUL thing. People see taking a bus as a LOW or DEGRADING THING. So, the last thing people want is to be seen standing alongside the main road waiting for a bus. Some folk will do it, but most will not take bus. To them, that’s like humiliating.

        • Anonymous says:

          If you have nice buses that run on time on a schedule, people will use them. The jitney buses you have are humiliating to everyone, not just the riders.

      • Anon says:

        Whatabout an HOV lane?
        It’s a lane dedicated to “high occupancy vehicles”. You could put the bus on the shoulder of the road/HOV-lane at peak traffic hours and create an incentive for waiting motorists to take the bus.

      • Anonymous says:

        We have had problems with public buses because no one manages them. Do you know of any public bus driver that has ever be given a ticket for the numerous traffic violations? Have you been in a bus going East or coming from the East? “One stop driver” in the middle of the road no bus stops. People refusing to pay before the bus leaves. When the bus stops they pull out $100 bill, the driver hopefully has change.The myriads of ignorant people who make driving in a bus hard for the rest. Try it for a week?

    • Anonymous says:

      I Agree CNS!

  23. Anonymous says:

    The importance of the EIA cannot be ignored here in this discussion. An EIA is a very important tool when doing any project where ecological interaction is inevitable.

    Throughout the EIA process, everything is on the table for review. If there are areas that HAS to be left undisturbed, the route will change. If there are hydrology concerns, as far as flow of water, the EIA will direct on how to build the road (whether above on pilings, or again move).

    As an engineer, who is only in the sideline here, I can appreciate the value of an EIA will have on such a project.

    There are various projects (past and future) on the western side of Grand, that have escaped the need of having to do an EIA. Given the almost total eradication of mangroves on that side.

    • Anonymous says:

      They also were not seemingly done before the building of the Bodden Town and Newlands bypasses, resulting in significant periodic flooding to residents in both areas. It’s not okay for government to do that to people.

  24. Anonymous says:

    Here we go again… another drawn out mess. 10’s of thousands of people are stuck in hours of traffic daily, causing no end of stress, rage and productivity delays and here we are worrying about 174 acres. I get that we have to protect our wetlands and environments and that’s all good but this project is 10 years too late already and we are still debating routes and grass pieces / trees… this is awful. GOV after GOV passes this buck (just like the dump for so many years)… YES its a contentious piece of work but we HAVE to get going on this.

    • Anon says:

      No, we don’t have to get going on this.
      Explain to me how this will make the major bottleneck in front of Hurleys better? There will be more cars (because of course there will be development around the new road) trying to fit through the same space. I honestly don’t see this as a solution.

  25. Anonymous says:

    CIG are using road building techniques that would have been familiar to the Romans. Pushing hundreds of thousands of tons of marl into the wetlands will cause immeasurable harm to almost everything. Whilst I agree that road links need improving from the northern and eastern districts, it cannot be done at the cheapest cost, or for the financial benefit of politicians that may have vested interests in such a project.
    I don’t believe there is any ‘good’ way of building a road, but the best option must be considered, and that must be a road built on piles without causing a dam effect across the centre of the island.
    In the meantime, public transport needs a radical upgrade, specifically the public bus service. Cayman needs to look toward Bermuda for a example of how to have a large capacity, safe and efficient service that removes thousands of vehicles off the roads. Car hire needs to be seriously restricted and ferry services taken out of the hands of private companies whose motivation is high profit over public service.
    Cayman needs to get imaginative and search the world for solutions. But sadly, with the current planning minister, his intellect, and his interests in NS, that looks beyond reach for the Cayman people for the foreseeable future.

  26. Anonymous says:

    Build it, but please put signs up showing people how to drive correctly and use the left hand lane on a highway unless overtaking and not go slow on the right. That is what causes most of the islands traffic.

  27. Anonymous says:

    Does this mean Ironwood is back?

  28. Anonymous says:

    Less cars means less roads. One car per household or better still we all have solar powered golf carts. They have a range from one side of the island to the other. A no brainer which is why no MLA has ever suggested it. Cayman would be the renewal poster boy it the world instead of Dart’s styrofoam lap dog.

  29. Anonymous says:

    They need to start limiting cars not build more roads. Limit the people that can get permanent residency and stop foreigners from buying land here anymore.

  30. Anonymous says:

    This is so sad. We need some real politicians that keep their promises.

  31. Anonimous says:

    Why did people from West Bay have to sit in traffic for hours before the By-Pass was built with the People’s Tax Money???????????????

    I’ll give you a Hint…………..

    All the property that some Caymanians owned was sold………

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2019/10/18/business/kenneth-dart-cayman-islands.amp.html

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/world/kenneth-dart-cayman-islands-property-empire-tax-haven-a9162671.html%3famp

    • Anonymous says:

      This article in both NYT and the Independent is the best description of the history of Dart in Cayman that I have read so far.

      Shame you had to give Google the credit in your links…

  32. Anonymous says:

    I bet not many ppl that are commenting against this road have to sit in traffic to an from the east every day. And it not like old times, just as much cars be in the road on Saturday as during the week

  33. Anonymous says:

    Look ya! I na business if the fountain of youth is in there. Build that road. They force all the poor ppl to this side the island and then want make them sit in traffic the rest of their life

  34. Anonymous says:

    The politicians, regardless of party affiliation, don’t want the gravy train to stop and growth will continue unchecked. Its time to get realistic about transportation infrastructure and a real public transit system. The road network is terrible and if every proposed project was completed tomorrow it wouldn’t be enough. It turns out there is no environmentally friendly way to drain wetlands and cover it with tarmac. Do we really need a consultant to tell us that?

  35. Anonymous says:

    It would be nice if the NRA would explain how this route was chosen. Is it just a pencil line on the map trying to follow parcel boundaries, or were there other considerations? What were the considerations? They never tell why they do what they do.

  36. Anonymous says:

    (Mono)Rail on piling tracks with platform for electric bikes and scooters parking lot on each side of the track a few stops for nature trails and a national park for green spaces. CIG experts at building roads and less so at green spaces or maintaining the small playland green areas that Dart built for them which are hardly adequate to stretch our legs.

  37. Anonymous says:

    This is not about traffic. It is 100% about development. Scrape off all the trees, flatten every bump in the land, and fill with marl. Then spend the next 30 years trying to sell ugly vacant lots. Maybe build a few apartments with marl all around. You still wont be able to get to town in the morning because of the giant traffic jam that no one has been able to fix at Hurleys.

    • Anonymous says:

      Don’t worry friend. One more lane at hurleys should do the trick and if that doesn’t work, CIG will just build one more lane after that. There’s nothing that another lane going to the same bottleneck can’t solve. I mean, look at the US. Some highways have 8 lanes going in one direction and they are fine… right?

  38. Anonymous says:

    Am against destoying the environment but how do we know these things are there if there is no access anyway?

  39. Anonimous says:

    75% of the land on Grand Cayman is undeveloped and people are in traffic in the mornings and the evenings for hours that add to road rage and speeding for people to get to work on time that sometimes cause un-necessary accidents

    Its time our leaders stop listening to and catoring to the excuses of the elite who blind us with trivial excuses to prevent properly developing our island while they snach our land from us for little or nothing and turn around when they purchase these lands in question and break the same enviornmental laws they encourage our government to enforce when they design and build new sub-divisions or communities

    I only hope that those Caymanians who still own land in East End and North Side are paying attention and make themselves familure with the Go East Initialive and the National Tourism Development Plan and hold on to there property and don’t sell.

    The Go East Initiative and the National Tourism Development Plan calls for 14,800 Hotel Rooms, 5,000 Apartments/Condos, Cottages and Botique Hotels.

    It also calls for Mixed used Communities with Commercial Buildings and Offices, Bars, Restaurants and Retail Stores

    I hope that the government builds this road and spread out the development that in concentrated on West Bay Road and George Town, so that jobs can be created on the Eastern side of the island

    West Bay Road and George Town should not be thé only place planned for Hotels, Offices and Commercial Buildings for people to live and work; and while they are at it, i hope they also make plans for Hotels, Offices and Mixed use Developments on the Brac to also create jobs there too

    • Anonymous says:

      The beaches and not good enough for that level of infrastructure in the east. Best thing would be to cover it with solar panels and export energy. That way we don’t have to deal with tourists and their carbon footprint.

  40. Anonymous says:

    I was working with CIG when Arden was minister. He had NRA push the entire trail through to Frank Sound.

  41. Anonymous says:

    Some may not recall, but when Arden McLean was the minister for roads, the path for this highway was cleared all the way through to Frank Sound.

    This road has to be done. Just like how the residents on west bay road suffered before the bypass was done, the people that live in the eastern districts are suffering.

    • Anonymous says:

      No they are not, and this won’t help them get past the jam up at Hurleys.

      • Say it like it is says:

        7.22pm You are quite right, you could have 2 or 3 arterial roads on this route, but it will only reduce your travel time to the monumental jam before Hurleys. Overall your travel time to G.T. and beyond will remain the same.

      • Anonymous says:

        The other solution is simply to widen the mainroads to include two more lanes.

    • Anonymous says:

      Except the people of WB don’t all have to converge at Grand Harbour. Unless and until that road block is resolved no extension can help the people coming from the east.

    • Anonymous says:

      Agreed, build the road and stop whining about swampland.
      Bet none of these tree hugging comments come from those who spend hours going back and forth to the Eastern districts.

    • Stopthemoneywaste says:

      You are 100 % correct. Grand Cayman consists of 48,640 acres of land and CNS is writing nonsense about clearing 174 acres (.003 % of the Island’s landmass, three thousand’s of 1%) to build a road that is crucial to the future development of the eastern districts of Grand Cayman. Utter nonsense about eia, where is the eia that was done when the first phase of the road was built, the section from Savannah to Red Bay that thousands of us use daily. Where is the eia when we built the Frank Sound road to North Side, where is the eia when we built the Queen’s highway, where is the eia when we built the road from Bodden Town to East End and all the other roads? What we will pay consultants to prepare an eia will build the road to Colliers with money left over. This money would better be used if we turned it into $100 bills and used them for fill in the road. I am urging the current Government to scrap this nonsense about eia to build roads, the roads have to be built for future development regardless of what the imported experts say. CNS, have either of you walked the route that this road will take? Your anti development stance and reporting is sickening, I don’t hear you’ll opposing road construction in Cayman Brac, but I’m praying you will soon start.

      CNS: Take a breath and then read the DoE report, written by scientists, on which this article is based. Then go to Seven Mile Beach and see what happens when developers and government ignore what the scientists said would happen there. There is no “imported” science and “local science”. Science is science and ignore it at your peril. Or, more likely, make a buch of money and let future generations deal with their greed/incompetance/ignorance/hubris.

    • Anonymous says:

      We need fewer cars not more roads

    • Caymanian says:

      Just like how the Cruise Berthing has to be done?? Lol

      • Anonymous says:

        False equivalency. This road would actually improve the lives of thousands of Caymanians. Not just the people involved in the project.

    • Anonymous says:

      What you mean to say is that heavy equipment was sent in to clear a path through the mangrove wetland without permission or even notification of the landowners. This was to facilitate the developers of Ironwood, that magnificent golf course community next to the Botanic Park that today provides so many jobs and prosperity for Caymanians in the eastern districts (sarcasm alert).

  42. Anonymous says:

    Way to go CIG! Why not just burn the entire island up.

  43. Anonymous says:

    This road needs to be built at any cost. It is simply too late to not consider it – the traffic and housing situation has gone out of hand, and this will be key to alleviating both.

  44. ThIs WrItInG Is VeRy IrRiTaTiNg says:

    The simple solution would be to build the road on pilings above the wetlands.

  45. A.J. says:

    Just pave the whole island. Making it a big city on a small island. Need less cars, not more roads.

  46. Anonymous says:

    Get the concrete down now.

    Which idiot planted trees there? stopping the progress of Cayman. Disgusting

  47. Anonymous says:

    Please re-route it to avoid environmental damage. We need this road, but not at further expense to our environment. It may be more costly to re-route initially, but will avoid more long term damage.

  48. Anonymous says:

    Build it or we will all be in traffic for ever and a day. Screw the eco system.

  49. Anonymous says:

    That’s potentially another one of our trail runs gone then. Now with the dump mandarin being built in Beach Bay and the crappy condos at the end of Lords Ways off Selkirk Drive that try to stop you running through to Admirals Landing means we’re losing some great trails. And for what? Mainly those disgusting houses that look like giant cardboard boxes.

    • Smile Don't Frown! says:

      What trail exactly in Beach Bay is the ‘dump mandarin’ causing the loss of?

      • Anonymous says:

        The one to the East of it where they bring the drugs onshore using a wheelbarrow

      • Anonymous says:

        The one to the East of it that meanders through the bushes to the cliff tops, you can’t see it on Google earth. Suspect it’s a wheelbarrow drug run path.

  50. B. Ackhoe says:

    Any land in there owned by politicians?

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