Infrastructure Programme gets $1.5 Billion

Activities under the Transportation Infrastructure Rehabilitation Programme should be significantly enhanced this year through a $1.5 billion provision, set aside in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.

The project, being implemented by the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, aims to rehabilitate essential portions of the main road system and ensuring physical continuity of the primary road network by minimising the impact of flooding on the road system.

Anticipated targets for 2012/13 include: award of contract for the overlay/paving of the Red Hills to Santa Maria corridor (St. Andrew) and achievement of 98 per cent completion; continue construction on the Belmont to Ferris Cross Corridor (Westmoreland) and achieve 70 per cent completion; and award of contract for Roselle Revetment works (St. Thomas) and achieve 70 per cent completion.

Other plans for this year include: completing the Hope River Bridge and associated protective works; award contract for phase two of the Yallahs River Training works and achieve 80 per cent completion; award contract to undertake a feasibility study of the southern coastal highway corridor and achieve 100 per cent completion.

The project which began in February 2008 is now scheduled to be completed in October 2013.

Since inception, there have been several achievements, including practical completion (98 per cent) of construction of the Hope River Bridge; award of contract for the rehabilitation/overlay of the Scotts Cove-Ferris Cross Corridor and the achievement of eight per cent completion; award of contract to undertake the master drainage plan study and the achievement of 55 per cent completion; and completion of phase one of the Yallahs River training works contract.

The project is being funded by the government of Jamaica and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

By Chris Patterson, JIS Reporter