The National Park Service (NPS) has begun work on the east side of Salt River Bay NHP and EP, beginning Phase I of the park’s shoreline restoration, which includes improvements to an old road-bed that will become a park access road and the long‐awaited abandoned hotel demolition project. This project will ultimately improve park access and be the first steps toward the multi‐agency, multi‐university partnership development project for the Marine Research and Education Center.

It begins with establishing road access into the park’s east side from Bennie Benjamin Road, road survey and engineering design for park access road, and finally demolition of the abandoned hotel structure on NPS property Plot 327, and removal and recycling of abandoned, concrete construction materials.

In collaboration with the Government of the Virgin Islands, Government House, DPNR and DPW, NPS contractor TipTop Construction began road maintenance (vegetation removal and road bed stabilization) of the old road to be used as a haul road for removal of demolition materials from the hotel site. In collaboration with V.I. National Guard (VING) and other visiting National Guard engineering units, NPS will undertake the complete removal of the hotel to below grade, removal of remaining construction materials for re‐use and re‐cycling, further stabilization of haul road and lastly re‐grading and re‐vegetation of the peninsula and shoreline stabilization project. This is the first opportunity for VING to provide an “Army Readiness Training” opportunity to other National Guard units.

Until further notice, the east side of Salt River Bay NHP & EP (Judith’s Fancy peninsula) will remain closed to all types of access during all phases of the construction/demolition project to ensure the safety of visitors and the safe operation of the construction project.

Contact NPS with any questions regarding the project at 773‐1460, ext, 222.