A Government pledge to rebuild a wall and reopen a road in Devonshire after nine years of complaints was met with mixed feelings from locals yesterday.One Devon Spring Road resident described the news as like being “given a million dollars” but others dismissed it as electioneering.Devon Spring Road has been partially closed since 2003 because a retaining wall crumbled below it, making it unsafe.Residents said Government insisted for years that it was a private road and they should foot the bill.In the meantime, Devon Spring Road remained blocked with concrete barriers at its South Shore Road entrance and at the first sharp curve as it climbs towards the Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute.Residents worked to put together plans as far back as 2008 for the work to be done, but they were rejected by Works and Engineering.Yesterday, Minister of Public Works Michael Weeks said: “I am very pleased to announce that preliminary works to the Devon Spring Road retaining wall project at 63 South Road, Devonshire, has commenced by technical staff of the Ministry of Public Works with the objective of making the wall safe for residents and the public and reopening the road to traffic.“Without question, we recognise that residents and the public have been inconvenienced by the delay in constructing the wall. By way of brief background, the public will be aware that there have been ongoing issues regarding the retaining wall, dating back to 2003.“However each time we were presented with challenges, which mainly involved an impasse on the design of the wall, this Government did its due diligence to work with the land owners via the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Department of Planning to find an amicable resolution to the issue. Admittedly the wheels of progress can move rather slowly; however our priority was ensuring that we were able to provide the safest possible structure for this area’s residents.”Mr Weeks said that a request for proposal for the work was issued in July and the contract was awarded to local firm Brown and Company last month.He noted that the project “will see job creation opportunities for local construction workers” and will begin at the end of January.“I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to the landowners for their cooperation in working with us to move towards completing this project,” he said.“I also wish to thank local residents for their continued patience as work begins on addressing one of their outstanding concerns.”Natalie Perry, 74, who has lived on the road for 58 years, said: “I think it’s wonderful. It’s marvellous. I don’t have enough words to express the gratitude we will all have when it’s finished. It’s been a battle all these years and I’m so happy, it’s like you’ve just given me a million dollars.”However, her husband, Joe Perry, 78, said: ‘“We’ve been inconvenienced for ten years of not using the road and all of a sudden, just because there’s an election coming up, they now decide they want to open the road. I don’t trust them. The people on Devon Spring Road are very angry”.Another resident, Gregory Dietz, said: “I’m delighted to hear this news. It’s been a long time and I am delighted it’s finally getting done.”He said there had been problems in years gone by with youths congregating in the area and residents have had to drive further due to the South Road junction being blocked.Local MP Bob Richards, of the One Bermuda Alliance, described yesterday’s announcement as “cynical politics”.He said: “Government has blocked the opening to this road for nine years. The road hasn’t just been closed — Government closed it. Government denied that it was their responsibility to have it open. They said it was a private road. The Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute is on that road. It can’t be a private road, but that’s been Government’s story for nine years. All of a sudden, on the eve of an election, they have decided to spend public funds to open this road.”Asked about allegations of electioneering, Mr Weeks said: “The contract was put out via a Request for Proposal in July. That was long before the election was called.”