Road to Camaruche Closure

[davesmom]

Nicely done, Collectivité! Good thing we are not staying at Le Guanahani right now..what a hassle that would be. But the drive by Grand Fond is a nice second prize. I can say that the big "hill" is one scary drive for me and any improvement should be welcome for sure. Maybe I will get the courage to drive next time..there is always hope!! It is on my bucket list, in addition to trying to drive a Vespa (probably in some parking lot where I can't get into too much trouble!!:laughing-cry

 

[amyb]

I have that Vespa urge too.

 

[elgreaux]

I have that Vespa urge too.

I'll take the photos

 

[cec1]

Nicely done, Collectivité! Good thing we are not staying at Le Guanahani right now..what a hassle that would be. But the drive by Grand Fond is a nice second prize. I can say that the big "hill" is one scary drive for me and any improvement should be welcome for sure. Maybe I will get the courage to drive next time..there is always hope!! It is on my bucket list, in addition to trying to drive a Vespa (probably in some parking lot where I can't get into too much trouble!!:laughing-cry

One of the best parts of this report is that one of the objectives is to “improve vehicle grip!” How many of us have been on the hill in a rain when traffic came to a halt as some distressed driver stalled in the upward climb, spinning wheels as he / she tried to get traction on the rain-slick, steep road? Maybe even been that driver?

One of my Villa guests was in that position a couple of years ago . . . struggling to hold a “grip” on the road, with a L-O-N-G line of cars behind him. A French driver from the car behind him came up & said something in French, & my guest replied in his limited French, “je suis désolé . . . je ne parle pas français.” The French guy responded, in perfect English — “Yeah, and you don’t know how to drive either!”

 

[Gables]

I believe most of the hill is open for villas along the way up. The hard closure is at the red line in the map above.

We are headed back to St Barts for our third consecutive year and are staying in a Villa in Lorient. Is the line of demarcation drawn above in "red" with respect to the hard closure still accurate?

We have been advised by the real estate agency that, despite the construction and road closure, we will be able to access the road leading up to our Villa since the actual closure is further down the road (slightly). I have no way of verifying where the "hard stop" takes place but the map shared above would indicate that we are indeed okay.

 

[Jim A]

We are headed back to St Barts for our third consecutive year and are staying in a Villa in Lorient. Is the line of demarcation drawn above in "red" with respect to the hard closure still accurate?

We have been advised by the real estate agency that, despite the construction and road closure, we will be able to access the road leading up to our Villa since the actual closure is further down the road (slightly). I have no way of verifying where the "hard stop" takes place but the map shared above would indicate that we are indeed okay.

At the beginning of last week the "line of demarcation" was just beyond JoJo Burger, so we were able to park in the shared lot behind it. As of the end of the week it had moved "up" to just beyond the road to Grand Fond/Saline on the front side of the cemetery.

 

[Dennis]

One of the best parts of this report is that one of the objectives is to “improve vehicle grip!” How many of us have been on the hill in a rain when traffic came to a halt as some distressed driver stalled in the upward climb, spinning wheels as he / she tried to get traction on the rain-slick, steep road? Maybe even been that driver?

One of my Villa guests was in that position a couple of years ago . . . struggling to hold a “grip” on the road, with a L-O-N-G line of cars behind him. A French driver from the car behind him came up & said something in French, & my guest replied in his limited French, “je suis désolé . . . je ne parle pas français.” The French guy responded, in perfect English — “Yeah, and you don’t know how to drive either!”

I've been that driver!

Very first visit, staying a the Guanahani and driving a "Smart" car. So that route was a frequent one.

Sure enough, it rained and I spun, slid and cursed my way up that hill!

 

[Gables]

At the beginning of last week the "line of demarcation" was just beyond JoJo Burger, so we were able to park in the shared lot behind it. As of the end of the week it had moved "up" to just beyond the road to Grand Fond/Saline on the front side of the cemetery.

Thanks, Jim.

To clarify, are you saying that if I am headed in the direction of Pte. Milou with the sea to our left, that as I reach JoJo Burger I will not be able to continue any further? If so, that is indeed problematic and contrary to what we were assured by the villa agency.

The right-hand turn for our villa is just past JoJo Burger prior to what looks like another cemetery on the left-hand side.

 

[Jim A]

Thanks, Jim.

To clarify, are you saying that if I am headed in the direction of Pte. Milou with the sea to our left, that as I reach JoJo Burger I will not be able to continue any further? If so, that is indeed problematic and contrary to what we were assured by the villa agency.

The right-hand turn for our villa is just past JoJo Burger prior to what looks like another cemetery on the left-hand side.

Hmmm...let me answer carefully and not go beyond what I know for sure because I don't want to give bad info as this is a huge deal for you I'm sure. What I saw and what I read on here beforehand looked like two different things. Yes, by the end of the week as you approached the first cemetery (with the sea on your left) you were detoured to make a right up towards Grand Fond/Saline (even before JoJo Burger). BUT, the left lane going towards Pt Milou (at least as far as JoJo, but perhaps further) seemed to be open to construction vehicles. At the end of last week they seemed to be working on the road right around JoJo and the cemetery. Perhaps it was also open to local traffic that needed to go up a little further? I didn't try or look that closely. I just assumed you couldn't go any further because the right lane was blocked. Also, that was a frozen point in time. Perhaps before or after my stay you could go further and all the way up to the where the map shown on here in post #2 states.

Perhaps call them and see if they are just going off of the original plan (in post #2 above) or if they indeed can assure you that when you go that local traffic can go a little further up using the construction lane and get to your turn. I guess it would make sense to allow some local traffic, because if you can't get to the street from the top, you have to be able to get there from Lorient, right?

 

[Gables]

Thanks, Jim. While I'm still uncertain about my ability to gain "local access" to our villa, your post was very clear.

One would assume that local residents and guests could continue along the construction lane beyond JoJo Burger in order to access the local roads that provide access to villas in Lorient, prior to the point depicted in post #2 above (where access to Pte. Milou and beyond would be restricted). But, I am going to verify again to avoid confusion.

Thanks again.

 

[TR561]

I will just say this, changing my villa from vitet to st jean was one of the best decisions ever. I took my 2 girls to snorkel in petite cul de sac and just getting there was stressful. Going to dinners in gustavia at night from there would have been crazy.

 

[Cwater]

We love our villa in St, Jean. No matter what the closures or detours we are always a few minutes from our favorite places.

I will just say this, changing my villa from vitet to st jean was one of the best decisions ever. I took my 2 girls to snorkel in petite cul de sac and just getting there was stressful. Going to dinners in gustavia at night from there would have been crazy.

 

[betsyparker]

Thanks, Jim.

To clarify, are you saying that if I am headed in the direction of Pte. Milou with the sea to our left, that as I reach JoJo Burger I will not be able to continue any further? If so, that is indeed problematic and contrary to what we were assured by the villa agency.

The right-hand turn for our villa is just past JoJo Burger prior to what looks like another cemetery on the left-hand side.

We had dinner reservations in Pte Milou two nights ago (somehow completely forgot about the construction until 30 minutes prior). Road was marked “closed” just beyond fish market (with sea on left, heading towards PM). We started to turn around; then another car bounded past the closed sign so quickly my husband decided it wasn’t really closed and proceeded up one lane for maybe 100 feet before realizing it was in fact truly closed and impassable. There was a road/driveway at the right where this occurred and we were able to turn around to go back to the Saline road near Jojo Burger. So, if your villa is off that driveway, it may be accessible. If not, IDK. (And obviously as progress is made, it may be more accessible). We did actually see night rod work occurring on our way home that night (in St Jean), which was a shock to the system here. Good luck!

 

[Gables]

We had dinner reservations in Pte Milou two nights ago (somehow completely forgot about the construction until 30 minutes prior). Road was marked “closed” just beyond fish market (with sea on left, heading towards PM). We started to turn around; then another car bounded past the closed sign so quickly my husband decided it wasn’t really closed and proceeded up one lane for maybe 100 feet before realizing it was in fact truly closed and impassable. There was a road/driveway at the right where this occurred and we were able to turn around to go back to the Saline road near Jojo Burger. So, if your villa is off that driveway, it may be accessible. If not, IDK. (And obviously as progress is made, it may be more accessible). We did actually see night rod work occurring on our way home that night (in St Jean), which was a shock to the system here. Good luck!

Is the fish market located near the other cemetery (on the ocean-side) or is it much closer to the Saline road and JoJo Burger? Just trying to get a sense of how much further beyond JoJo Burger one can actually drive.

Common sense dictates that WIMCO would not rent a villa that is inaccessible by automobile. Therefore, since you cannot access the villa from the other side (i.e., coming from PM) because of the work on Camaruche Hill, then you must be able to access the villa from the intersection of JoJo Burger and the Road to Saline. Yet, the road construction and impassable lanes describe by others creates doubt.

 

[JEK]

Is the fish market located near the other cemetery (on the ocean-side) or is it much closer to the Saline road and JoJo Burger? Just trying to get a sense of how much further beyond JoJo Burger one can actually drive.

The fish market is at the base of the hill, nearly out of Lorient. And yes, near the seaside cemetery.

 

[cassidain]

View attachment 58460

what a difference a day (or few) makes



"la voie est ouverte" !!!!

and look at that beautiful trottoir !!!!

 

[Jim A]

Officially Open!!!

 

[cec1]

Officially Open!!!

Fantastique!

 

[Eve]

Is the fish market located near the other cemetery (on the ocean-side) or is it much closer to the Saline road and JoJo Burger? Just trying to get a sense of how much further beyond JoJo Burger one can actually drive.

Common sense dictates that WIMCO would not rent a villa that is inaccessible by automobile. Therefore, since you cannot access the villa from the other side (i.e., coming from PM) because of the work on Camaruche Hill, then you must be able to access the villa from the intersection of JoJo Burger and the Road to Saline. Yet, the road construction and impassable lanes describe by others creates doubt.

got stuck there at night last week

 

[amyb]

This is wonderful news. I see a road trip in our future….