Mike Henry breaks ground for new Rio Grande Bridge

Minister of Transport and Works, Hon Mike Henry, broke ground for the construction of the new Rio Grande Bridge in St Margaret’s Bay, Portland, at a ceremony in that community on Wednesday (January 12).

The bridge, which will be built at a cost of US$26 million, will replace the one which collapsed in 2008 as a result of flooding. Work will commence in February, and completion is scheduled for April, 2012.

The project will be implemented under the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP), and contractors will be China Harbour Engineering Company, which has the responsibility for the JDIP across Jamaica.

Mr. Henry said he was pleased to be associated with the event, particularly in view of the fact that the community has been in need of a bridge for a long time.

He gave an assurance that it will be built with the highest level of structural integrity, adding that its construction will form part of the effort to raise the quality of infrastructure in the country.

Noting that his ministry was assiduously perusing its mandate of improving the country’s infrastructure, Mr. Henry said a great deal of that effort was centred on Portland, pointing to the restoration work on roadway in the community of Friday which is ninety percent complete.

He said the bridge was a major undertaking by the Government in the area of infrastructural development, and will go a far way in improving the lives of the people of Portland.

Mr. Henry said he was confident that the programme will be remembered as one of the best initiatives instituted in the country, by virtue of the high quality of the projects.

Minister responsible for Information and Member of Parliament of West Portland, Hon Daryl Vaz, said it was an indication of the serious attention government is giving to infrastructural development in Portland.

He described the JDIP as a “God send” initiative to catalyze the social and economic development of Jamaica, and emphasized that every effort will be made to ensure that as many persons as possible will get employment in the project.

He urged residents of St. Margaret’s Bay to warmly welcome the contractors to their community, and give them full cooperation as the work progresses.

General Manager of China Harbour Engineering Company, Zongdong Tang, expressed pleasure at being associated with the groundbreaking ceremony. He observed that the initiative related very well to the budding relationship between Jamaica and the People’s Republic of China.

He gave the assurance that his company will vigorously implement the JDIP, and noted that the project has provided the opportunity for the company to “whet the appetite” of Jamaicans for long term prospects for the betterment of their country.

Other speakers included, Patrick Wong, Chief Executive Officer of the National Works Agency (NWA).