The Virgin Islands Department of Public Works has secured the final federal permit for the Veterans Drive Improvement Project, clearing the last regulatory hurdle for one of the territory’s most significant infrastructure investments in years. Contractor solicitation is expected within 30 to 45 days.
Charlotte Amalie’s long-awaited roadway and waterfront overhaul is one step closer to breaking ground.
The Virgin Islands Department of Public Works has secured the last federal permit needed to move the Veterans Drive Improvement Project into active procurement — a milestone that signals the territory’s most significant downtown infrastructure initiative in years is finally leaving the planning stage.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the final Department of the Army permit, completing the project’s federal environmental and regulatory compliance requirements. DPW says the project will be released for contractor solicitation within 30 to 45 days through the Federal Highway Administration’s Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division, which will manage procurement and construction oversight.
The scope of work includes roadway widening and reconstruction, drainage upgrades, pedestrian improvements, utility coordination, and waterfront infrastructure enhancements along the Charlotte Amalie corridor. The Bryan-Roach Administration has assembled a funding package to carry it through, including a $25 million RAISE grant, the 2025 GARVEE bond issuance, and a $125 million CDBG-MIT award. DPW Commissioner Derek Gabriel noted the project involved years of coordination across multiple federal agencies, waterfront permitting requirements, and right-of-way negotiations.
While solicitation moves forward, DPW will continue working with the U.S. Coast Guard to resolve remaining right-of-way issues along the project alignment. Officials also highlighted the importance of coordinating the Veterans Drive work with planned harbor dredging in Charlotte Amalie to maximize long-term economic benefits for the territory’s primary port district. Additional procurement details are expected as the process advances.