11 vendors begin relocating to make way for ‘B’ Field Sophia Road widening project

Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill, on Wednesday, visited the ongoing relocation exercise in B Field Sophia, thus marking a significant step forward in the widening of the community’s main road artery. The visit served as a follow-up to a successful meeting held with local vendors on Tuesday, where all parties mutually agreed to relocate to facilitate the continuation of this vital infrastructure project. During the visit, Edghill expressed his gratitude to the vendors who are actively transitioning to the newly designated tarmac. He commended their continued cooperation and praised them for prioritising community progress over the misleading narratives of anti-development forces.

The relocation of the vendors will see the advancement of the road-widening project – a cornerstone for the continued development of B Field Sophia. Expanding this main artery is essential for alleviating traffic congestion, improving road safety, and creating a more efficient, modern transport network for all residents and businesses. To safely execute these upgrades, it is necessary to clear the road shoulders, and this will see a total of 64 vendors relocated to make way for the expansion. Currently, 11 vendors operating directly within the alignment of the road project have already commenced their move with support from the Ministry. The Government remains deeply committed to ensuring that all individuals who ply their trade in the area can maintain their economic livelihoods without interruption. To accommodate the remaining vendors currently operating on the road shoulders, the Ministry will construct two additional, purpose-built tarmacs within B Field, in the middle and at the farther end of the community. This transition not only allows the road project to advance but also provides vendors with a safer, more organised and formalised environment to conduct their business. Meanwhile, Edghill firmly reiterated the Government’s stance regarding the unauthorised occupation of state reserves.
He clarified that individuals cannot claim self-assumed prescriptive rights to Government land and as such, the Government will not entertain requests for financial compensation for the removal of structures from these public reserves.