Damage to Road Network by Tropical Storm Ian at $889 Million

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has said that the total cost resulting from damage to the road network by Tropical Storm Ian is $889 million.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on November 1, the Prime Minister noted that the cost to reopen the affected works and improve the drivability is estimated at $359 million, and the cost to undertake permanent works, primarily retaining walls and drainage structures, is estimated at $530 million.

Mr. Holness informed that several communities, especially within the parishes of St. Catherine and Clarendon, were impacted by the flood rains from Tropical Storm Ian in September.

“There were reports of damage to roads, to varying degrees, especially in the low-lying areas. Some 47 roads were badly affected by landslides, mud flows, downed trees, or inundation, which rendered some communities inaccessible and some marooned,” he pointed out.

The Prime Minister said the country’s fiscal situation will not allow for all the required works to be implemented immediately.

Accordingly, the Government is proposing a programme of targeted interventions with a priority ranking.

He said focus will be placed on the reopening of blocked roads; cleaning of critical drains, which are now heavily silted; patching of main thoroughfares, which have been scoured, and the construction of new structures – retaining walls and river training, as funds become available.

“I have instructed that the National Works Agency (NWA) work with all related entities, including the municipal corporations, in finalising detailed designs and final estimates for the significant repair works which we will have to undertake,” Mr. Holness said.

He informed that Clarendon bore the brunt of the damage with $649 million; St. Thomas, $59.1 million, and Kingston, $17.75 million.

Mr. Holness said while the situation will further pressure the country’s resources, “our resolve as a Government is strong. Our resolve as a Government to ensure that we maintain, improve and build resilient infrastructure is strong and unquestionable”.

“I ask every Jamaican who now has to use our roadways, especially roadways that are in less than favourable conditions, to bear with the Government, as we work to improve our economy… .

And as we increase our public revenues, so, too, we will increase the amount that we allocate to not just wages… but to the capital expenditure on our roads and infrastructure,” the Prime Minister said.