Officials inspect start of multi‑million reconstruction of municipal roads in Culebra

By THE STAR STAFF

The executive director of the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience (COR3), Eduardo Soria Rivera, together with Culebra Mayor Edilberto “Junito” Romero Llovet, inspected the start of reconstruction work on nine municipal roads damaged by Hurricane Fiona. The roads will be rehabilitated through a combined federal and state investment totaling $3.5 million, aimed at strengthening safety, connectivity, and resilience across the island municipality.

“This project is the result of a coordinated effort across multiple sectors of government to address a real need within Culebra’s communities. I thank Governor Jenniffer González Colón for promptly responding to the request made by the mayor of Culebra and by House Speaker Carlos ‘Johnny’ Méndez, who emphasized the urgency of identifying additional funds and facilitating the transport of equipment and personnel needed to carry out these works,” said Soria Rivera.

To execute the project, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) allocated nearly $1.3 million, funds that have already been disbursed to the Municipality of Culebra. This federal investment is complemented by $2.1 million assigned by the governor, completing the financing required to move the project forward.

Mayor Romero thanked the government entities and the Legislature for responding to the municipality’s needs and enabling the allocation of resources.

“The reconstruction of these roads is essential to improving access for residents and visitors to residential and tourist areas of our island. This project will be complemented by the development of the Varedaro Food Court, a space that will expand Culebra’s gastronomic and recreational offerings, promoting a family‑friendly environment. Our administration has devoted special attention to this initiative, carefully overseeing every detail to ensure its success once operations begin,” the mayor said.

To expedite the work, the Municipality of Culebra announced it had signed an agreement with the Integrated Transport Authority (ATI) to coordinate the maritime transport of heavy machinery, construction materials, and asphalt via HMS Ferries.

Accountant María Marín, who will soon assume the role of interim executive director of COR3, emphasized that “each reconstruction project requires coordination, planning, and solutions tailored to the reality of each community. In Culebra’s case, interagency collaboration has been essential to overcoming the logistical challenges of developing infrastructure projects on an island municipality and ensuring the work can be carried out efficiently.”

The projects include the rehabilitation of road segments and the repair of essential components, including road surfaces, sidewalks, gutters, stormwater systems, drainage structures, and erosion‑control measures. These improvements aim to address damage from the atmospheric event and reduce the infrastructure’s vulnerability to future disasters.