Cabinet Set To Approve $250m Contract To Build New Spring Village Bridge In St. Catherine

KINGSTON, June 8 (JIS):

Cabinet is set to approve a $250 million contract on Monday (June 10) to construct a new bridge in Spring Village, St. Catherine South Western, thereby paving the way for the work to commence.

This was announced by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, during a visit to the community on Friday (June 7).

The new bridge will replace the existing structure which was closed by the National Works Agency (NWA) in September 2022 following assessments which determined that the structure was severely compromised and posed a danger to motorists and other users.

The Jamaica Broilers (JB) Group, which operates a plant in the area, is contributing $50 million towards the project.

Prime Minister Holness, who was accompanied by Member of Parliament, Everald Warmington, and JB executives, said while the closure posed an inconvenience to users, redesigning the bridge was imperative based on recommendations.

He indicated that the replacement agreed on will be a durable structure, capable of withstanding factors associated with extensive use by motorists and other commuters, and weather-related incidents, such as heavy rains.

Noting that “we have taken two years to get to this point”, Mr. Holness emphasised that financing from public funds has to go through several phases prior to approval to ensure that all expenditures are accounted for.

He assured, however, that “in another of couple days, Cabinet will approve [funding for construction of the new bridge in Spring Village].”

Prime Minister Holness also thanked the Jamaica Broilers Group “for… being a very good Corporate Citizen in partnering with the Government to have this very important piece of infrastructure built.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Warmington advised that plans for the new bridge’s construction are advanced and urged patience by persons who will use it, adding that “shortly, [work] will commence and we will have a very solid and permanent bridge.”