Barbican Road Improvement Project to Commence in Two Weeks

Work on the J$564.7-million (US$4.4-million) Barbican Road improvement project in St. Andrew is slated to commence in two weeks.

The four-month project, being implemented under the Administration’s Major Infrastructure Development Programme (MIDP) with funding support from the Government of the People’s Republic of China, entails significant upgrading of 1.1 kilometres of the 3.75-kilometre Barbican Road.

This will involve major improvements along the stretch between the intersections at Jacks Hill Road and the roadway leading to Russell Heights, as well as East Kings House Road to the Barbican Centre, which will be widened to a four-lane carriageway.

It is expected that this will significantly alleviate the traffic congestion that has been a long-standing challenge in that area.

Other features will include conversion of the one-way sections of Barbican Road and the south

bound part of East Kings House Road by the Barbican Centre to two-way traffic; the installation of traffic signals at the Birdsucker Lane, East Kings House Road and Jacks Hill Road intersections; widening of the Bustamante Bridge (box culvert) at the intersection with Jacks Hill Road to accommodate four-lane traffic; construction of 1.5-metre-wide sidewalks and medians; installation of drainage pipe/culverts and LED lights; and new signs, road markings and pavement markers.

These engagements comprise the project’s second phase, following the completion of land acquisition and boundary wall construction activities.

The project is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, through the National Works Agency (NWA), and will be executed by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC).

Complementing this will be a J$131-million water and sewerage infrastructure installation project that will be implemented simultaneously by the National Water Commission and executed by Surrey Paving and Aggregate Co. Limited.

Contracts for the Barbican Road project were signed during a brief ceremony at Jamaica House on Wednesday, August 9.

The proceedings were witnessed by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, and Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Jamaica, His Excellency Niu Qingbao.

Mr. Holness said the Barbican Road project underpins the Government’s mission to develop a safe, reliable and quality road network that improves the development potential and interconnectivity across communities islandwide.

He pointed out that Barbican Road is located at the centre of several major arterial and collector roadways, and that a recent survey showed it facilitates the movement of more than 26,000 vehicles daily.

Mr. Holness said as a result of the roadway’s low capacity, there is significant congestion, often resulting in gridlocks on this and adjoining roads and a slowing of vehicular traffic movement to a virtual crawl.

In this regard, he assured that the project “will deliver a corridor that will be able to handle a high volume of traffic in a more efficient and more comfortable manner”.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Niu said it should contribute to significant improvement in business and commerce in and around the area.

He also expressed confidence that CHEC would deliver a project of the highest quality and standard within the stipulated timeline and budget.

This assurance was also given by CHEC’s Project Manager, Liu Xiangang, who indicated that the firm welcomed the opportunity for ongoing partnership with the Government of Jamaica to undertake various infrastructure development projects.

State Minister in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Everald Warmington, who has responsibility for the NWA, also emphasised the importance of the Barbican Road improvement project.