Multibillion-Dollar Legacy Road Projects Slated For Completion By Year End

The National Works Agency (NWA) is reporting that the multibillion-dollar legacy road infrastructure upgrading projects, aimed at improving traffic flow in the Corporate Area and Westmoreland, should be completed by year end.

The projects fall under the Government of Jamaica’s Major Infrastructure Development Programme (MIDP), which is being financed through a concessionary loan from the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Export-Import Bank of China.

These developments are the US$56-million Hagley Park Road Improvement Project, the US$1.1-million Barbican Road Upgrade Project, US$19-million Constant Spring Road Improvement Project, the US$64-million Mandela Highway Realignment and Reconstruction Project, and the US$24.9-million Ferris Cross to Mackfield Project.

The NWA’s Communication and Customer Services Manager, Stephen Shaw tells JIS News that “steady progress” is being made on the projects, which are at varying stages of completion.

“We are working with a view to having the activities completed, certainly by the end of the year,” he adds.

Mr. Shaw informs that 95 per cent of the Hagley Park Road development has already been done, pointing out that “it is our intention to bring that figure closer to 100 before the end of October”.

He says the second layer of asphaltic concrete has been laid, which should result in motorists experiencing smoother travel on the road.

“What that means is that those areas that persons would have been complaining about in recent times, where there would have been manhole covers protruding or the edges of the roads not looking complete, those issues are now behind us, having completed the second layer of asphaltic concrete along Hagley Park Road,” he further states.

Mr. Shaw says the focus has shifted to paving activities on all the side roads, pointing out that “we also have some work to complete along Spanish Town Road in the vicinity of the overhead bridges”.

“We also have a number of entranceways that we are to complete, and this process will also continue,” he adds.

Mr. Shaw notes that some “tweaking” will be done in respect of drainage issues arising, adding that “we are also looking to complete the sidewalk works in some sections”.

He advises that the second phase of upgrading works, just beyond the Acadia intersection along Barbican Road is about 98 per cent complete.

“We have completed the retaining wall, we have done the filling, we have done the new pavement, markings have been done, the street lamps have been put up [although] they are yet to be switched on, and we still have some raised pavement markers to put in. So… the second phase of the works on Barbican road… that we started between Garth Road and Acadia… is [progressing],” he further informs.

Mr. Shaw says the overall Constant Spring Road improvement project is 85 per cent complete.

“We are about 60 or 70 per cent where the second layer of asphalt is concerned. This activity is continuing and so by [this)] week there will be only two areas outstanding where the second layer of asphalt is concerned, and this would have been that stretch between Shortwood Road down to West Kings House Road. There is also a bit of paving yet to be done above the temporary bridge in the Manor Park area,” he said.

Mr. Shaw advises that the US$64-million Mandela Highway Realignment and Reconstruction project is 99 per cent complete.

“There is some work taking place along Tom Cringle, and as soon as that bit of activity is complete then we will be in a position to move towards decommissioning the traffic signals and closing the median at Tom Cringle,” he further states.

The Communication Manager also informs that the Ferris Cross to Mackfield Road in Westmoreland is nearing 100 per cent completion.

“What are outstanding are some entrances and we have some side roads that we need to complete; those activities will be moving apace,” he says.

Mr. Shaw points out that the main carriageway between Ferris and Mackfield has been completed and is in use.

Meanwhile, he says work is progressing on Camp Road in Kingston, adding that the project is 65 per cent.

“We have completed the laying of the water lines on the eastern side of the carriageway… that is the side closer to the army outpost, and work is continuing on the western side of the corridor.

Steady progress is being made and, in short order, we will be doing some movements along Camp Road as it relates to the shifting of traffic to facilitate the speedy completion of that particular project,” Mr. Shaw adds.

The Government’s legacy projects are being implemented by the NWA to improve the island’s road network in order to enhance the quality of life of citizens and stimulate economic growth and development.

They are being executed by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), with the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation having responsibility for administering the concessionary loan.