Sustainable Cayman Supports NCC and EAB Call for Route B2 for East-West Arterial (EWA)

Sustainable Cayman wishes to reiterate its support for the position of the National Conservation Council as outlined in their 8 August 2025 letter to government, which endorsed the Environmental Assessment Board’s (EAB) recommended Route B2 for the East-West Arterial project. 

With lower environmental impact, fewer sensitive ecosystems impacted, lower flood risk and greater transportation benefits, the data is clear: route B2 would be in the best public interest and reflect the vision and pre-election commitments of the coalition government for responsible and data-driven infrastructure development decisions.   

Relieving Traffic Congestion 

Route B2 is closer to existing infrastructure than B3, meaning it connects better with roads and services that are already in place, making it easier and quicker to build. For example, Route B2 can be completed faster and with lower costs because it doesn't require complex structures like Route B3, which involves elevated roads and bridges that take more time and money to build. Route B2 will help reduce long-term traffic problems, and it supports better use of public transport. 

Sustainable Cayman acknowledges the necessity of an alternative roadway to the eastern districts as one of the necessary elements to reduce the significant hardships faced by the community from traffic congestion. However, we must emphasize that an EWA road in isolation will create very little if any tangible relief, and it must be developed in conjunction with a modern public transit system, other pragmatic solutions to reduce the number of vehicles on our roads and resolutions for the key bottlenecks in George Town1. 

Environmental Concerns and the Central Mangrove Wetlands 

The Central Mangrove Wetlands, often described as the ‘ecological heart’ of Grand Cayman, are the largest remaining intact mangrove wetland in the Caribbean. The proposed EWA roadway and the developments that could branch off from it, could lead to a situation that is counterintuitive to the goal of improving socioeconomic welfare for Caymanians. The free services that this integrated ecosystem provides-- flood mitigation, storm protection, carbon storage, water and sediment filtration and nutrients source for the North Sound marine ecosystem-- are literally priceless to our country. As our Islands grapple with the devastating beach erosion of Seven Mile Beach due to unsustainable development practices on the western side of Grand Cayman, we need to embrace this opportunity to have better foresight for the future of our people. 

· Route B2 will impact the environment to a lesser extent than Route B3 across nearly all categories and minimize direct impacts to the Central Mangrove Wetlands. 

· Route B3 would disrupt critical habitats like the Central Mangrove Wetlands, fragment ecosystems, putting endangered species like the Cayman parrot at greater risk. 

· Increased Flood Risks: The wetland areas that would be disturbed by Route B3 play a key role in flood protection for surrounding communities. Altering this delicate ecosystem increases the risk of flooding, exposing surrounding communities to greater flood impacts. 

Argument for Financial Sustainability 

Route B3 will lead to higher costs in both construction and maintenance over the next 50 years. These additional financial burdens could have long-term implications for our Islands. With Route B2, the Cayman Islands can achieve the same transportation goals at a lower cost. This makes Route B2 not just the smarter environmental choice but also the more fiscally responsible one. 

A Vision for a More Sustainable Cayman 

There is a critical window of opportunity now, to select the optimal route without wasting national resources, with the EIA work already conducted remaining valid for either route. Sustainable Cayman believes this is a pivotal moment for the Cayman Islands to realign national infrastructure planning with the values of community well-being, environmental protection, and fiscal responsibility. 

For more information and resources please visit Sustainable Cayman’s EWA campaign page: https://sustainablecayman.org/ewa-route-b2-vs-b3