Public Learns Details of Major Raphune Hill Road Upgrades on St. Thomas During CZM Meeting

Federal and local officials outlined long-awaited improvements to Raphune Hill Road, including intersection realignment, lane expansion, and safety upgrades, as part of a multi-phase project aimed at easing congestion and improving visibility.

ST. THOMAS — During Tuesday's Coastal Zone Management Committee meeting, the public was given an opportunity to learn more about the major improvements planned for the Raphune Hill Road on St. Thomas.

At the center of the discussion was the project’s federal consistency determination application for the relocation of the Route 381 intersection with Raphune Hill Road.

According to Kim Campo-Allen, an environmental protection specialist with the Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration, the division “will be overseeing the administration of the construction contract for the project.” She explained that the Department of Public Works, the local cooperating agency, has been “leading the right of way acquisition process…and assisting with the DPNR public noticing requirements.” The department was also responsible for securing funding and will maintain the roadways once construction is complete. Regarding the acquisition of adjacent properties, Ms. Campo-Allen noted that the process is currently well underway.