Ford to be Constructed at Moore Park

Residents of Bybrook in Western Portland should get some relief from flooding during heavy rainfall, as a contract was signed on February 25 for the construction of a ford at Moore Park in that community, which was severely damaged by the flood rains of 2002.
Access to the community is often impossible during heavy rains, resulting in residents being marooned.The contract will involve the rehabilitation of the ford along a section of the Church Hill to Moore Park Road, and will be carried out at a cost of $10.6 million.
Alcar Construction and Haulage Company has been given the contract, which should be completed within three months.
Addressing the signing ceremony, Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Works, Dr. Fenton Ferguson explained that the work to be carried out was part of a flood damage rehabilitation programme the Ministry had been pursuing in Portland since June 2002.
He said the contract would, among other things, involve the utilization of hand packed stones in concrete, concrete paved apron with boulders, and concrete curtain walls.
Dr. Ferguson pointed out that the Ministry had adopted an integrated approach to developing roadways, adding that a programme of co-operation had been worked out with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) for the implementation of a water supply system which the Fund would be constructing in the Bybrook community. This demonstrated an example of the integrated approach, Dr. Ferguson said.
Both entities have made an agreement through which Alcar Construction Company will lay pipes in the vicinity of the ford, to ensure that there are no undue delays in restoring the Moore Park ford.
Other speakers at the function included Member of Parliament for Western Portland, Errol Ennis who expressed gratitude on behalf of the community; and Glendon Watson of Alcar Construction and Haulage Company, who promised that the project would be completed on time and within budget.