90 Per Cent of Roadways Cleared – NWA

The National Works Agency (NWA) is reporting that 90 per cent of the approximately 149 roadways which were blocked as a result of the heavy rainfall associated with Hurricane Wilma have been cleared.
However, the agency is now faced with a new challenge resulting from the onslaught of heavy rainfall in the Western end of the island over the last couple of days.
According to Petra-Kene Williams, Acting Communications and Customer Services Manager at the NWA, “there are some corridors in Hanover that have been adversely affected by the heavy rainfall which include Flint River to Cascade; Cascade to Flower Hill and Jericho to Cascade main roads, which are now blocked”.
In its response, the NWA has mobilized equipment to begin its clearing operations. Also in Hanover, Riley to Bushmouth is inundated and a section of the Great Bay River to Sandy Bay main road is impassable. Motorists are being advised not to use that corridor at this time.
“The NWA will continue its efforts to clear the corridors that have been affected. Those persons who are travelling from Sandy Bay to Lucea may use the alternate route through Red Hills into Savanna-la-mar,” she said.
Over in St. James, Montego Bay is experiencing flooding in some areas due to the flooded North Gully. The NWA has mobilized a contractor to begin clearing operations once the waters in the gully have receded.
Giving an update on the roads affected by Hurricane Wilma, Ms. Williams said that in St. Catherine, the Bamboo to Worthy Park road was now open to single lane traffic.
In the Worthy Park to Ewarton, the waters have receded. However, the Worthy Park Bailey bridge is still closed to vehicular traffic while Bartons to Ginger Ridge is now open to single lane traffic.Over in Manchester, the Alligator Pond to Gut River main road has been reopened, while Green Hill to Keynsham is still flooded.
In St. Elizabeth there are four roadways that are still inaccessible. The three flooded roadways include Williamsfield to Fullerswood; Treasure Beach to Great Bay and Big Woods P.C. Road. The Top Hill to Big Yard main road is still blocked.
In Clarendon, the corridor at Alley Bridge is still inaccessible as some damage has been done to the structure. Motorists can use the alternate route – either May Pen to Hayes, Hayes into Dawkins Pen and then into Lionel Town or coming from Water Lane, York Town into May Pen.
Over in St. Andrew, the NWA is continuing its efforts to restore access to two areas that were affected. “We began work in the vicinity of Peter Rock to restore damaged sections of that roadway and we are also working at Petersfield along the Guava Ridge to Silver Hill Gap main road,” noted Ms. Williams.
In St. Ann, the area between Moneague and Blackstonedge is still flooded and therefore closed to vehicular traffic.
In St. Mary all roadways have been reopened. The NWA, however, is carrying out temporary restoration work along some corridors that were damaged. These include: Sandside to Palmetto Grove; Ballards Valley to Homestead; Oracabessa to Union Hill, and Frankfurt to Gayle.
The corridors in St. Thomas that have not yet been reopened include Trinityville to Mount Vernon and the Yallahs Fording. However, motorists can continue to use the Easington detour. The Bath to Bath Gap main road has been reopened while the Trinityville to Cedar Valley main road has been further damaged as a breakaway has worsened along that corridor in the vicinity of New Monkland, therefore restricting use of that area to small units.