55 Bridges to Be Upgraded

Fifty-five bridges across Jamaica will be upgraded at a cost of US$100 million through a partnership with the United Kingdom (UK).

The Accelerated Rural Bridge Development Programme aims to instal a range of permanent vehicular and pedestrian bridges in strategic areas.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Morgan, said the Government recognises that durable, high-quality climate-resilient infrastructure plays a vital role in poverty alleviation and is critical for sustainable economic growth.

Addressing Wednesday’s (January 29) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, the Minister shared that 40 per cent of Jamaica’s population live in rural areas and are served by roads and bridges that have been in service for over a century.

“A good example of that would be the Troy Bridge, which was over a hundred years old and collapsed due to old age. Many of these have not been updated to current loads and traffic requirements and are heavily affected by climate change, heavy rainfall and flooding as well as natural disasters,” Mr. Morgan said.

The Programme is being led by the Ministry and will be implemented by the National Works Agency (NWA).

“It is a build-and-instal project. The bridges will not be built in Jamaica. The company will be building and installing the bridges, so it’s a much quicker and easier project to implement than the standard approach that we usually take towards the procurement of major infrastructure works,” he said.

Among the bridges that will be upgraded are the Rio Cobre Irrigation Canal Bridge, Bushy Park Bridge, Richmond Prison Bridge, Eden Bridge, Silver Hill Bridge, Bybrook Bridge, Rock Bridge and Ramble Bridge.

Mr. Morgan said the full list of bridges will be published shortly.