$2.82 Billion Allotted to Arterial Road Project

The Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, has been allotted more than $2.82 billion this financial year to fund the Arterial Road Programme, which facilitates the maintenance of roads and structures.
This is contained in the 2007/2008 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. Of the total sum, $1.85 billion will go toward meeting the cost of servicing the deferred financing facility that is used to construct arterial roads. In addition, $1.92 million has been allocated to the Ocho Rios Road Development Project, which was originally funded through the Inter-American Bank and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. This provision is for payment of unsettled land claims.
The sum of $4.25 million will be used to facilitate the payment of unsettled land claims associated with the construction of the Old Harbour By-Pass Road, which was completed through funds from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
In the meantime, $966 million has been allocated for the Bridge Development and Construction Programme, with $266 million for the R.A. Murray Bridge Development Programme, and $700 million for the Mabey and Johnson Programme.
Under the R.A. Murray Programme, approximately $197.3 million will be used for bridge implementation, while $68.7 million will be used to construct approaches and to deal with associated costs. The project will upgrade, restore, and provide maintenance for main, secondary, and tertiary road bridges.
The provision will be used for the construction, repair and maintenance of bridges in Milk River, Clarendon; Black River, Portland; Gordon Town, St. Andrew, and Angels in St. Catherine.
Among the areas to benefit under the Mabey and Johnson Bridge Development Programme are King’s Valley in Westmoreland; Yallahs, Leith Hall, Harbour Head, and Ward River in St. Thomas; Alligator Church in Portland; and Merrivale, Cassia Park, and Red Hills in St. Andrew.
The Arterial Road Programme addresses the network of main roads and highways linking the island’s 14 parish capitals. It comprises approximately 809 kilometres of roads including bridges, 1,450 culverts, as well as walls and associated structures.