Kingston to Bushy Park Toll Road Opens Today

On Wednesday, December 15 the public will be able to travel via another segment of Highway 2000 with the opening of the new dual carriageway toll road between Kingston and Bushy Park in St. Catherine.
Making the announcement at yesterday’s (Monday, Dec. 13) post cabinet press briefing in Kingston, Transport and Works Minister Robert Pickersgill said commuting times on the new segment averaged 24 minutes compared to 57 minutes on the existing A2 road.
Using the segment of Highway 2000 from Kingston to Sandy Bay, motorists will be able to get on or off at three interchanges. These are the Mandela Interchange, the Portmore Interchange and the Spanish Town Interchange.
Meanwhile the existing access from Old Harbour to Bushy Park will be closed and a new road connecting the Old Harbour roundabout to the Spanish Town Toll Plaza is to be opened.
With the opening of the new section of the highway, westbound traffic from Kingston and Portmore travelling to Spanish Town will pay a toll at the New Spanish Town Toll Plaza, while westbound traffic travelling to Old Harbour, Freetown and Sandy Bay will pay tolls at the Vineyards Toll Plaza, which has been open since September 25, 2003.
Meanwhile eastbound traffic from Spanish Town travelling to Portmore or Kingston will pay a toll at the Spanish Town toll plaza. Also eastbound traffic from Sandy Bay, Freetown and Old Harbour will pay a toll at the Vineyards Toll Plaza.
For the new Spanish Town Toll Plaza, the toll cost for class one vehicles (less than 1.7 metres high but any length) will be $50 while class two vehicles (more than 1.7 metres high but less than 5.5 metres long) will pay $60, and class three vehicles (more than 1.7 metres high and more than 5.5 metres long) will pay a toll of $120.
Meanwhile motorists now using the Vineyards Toll Plaza will pay an increased toll. Class one vehicles (less than 1.7 metres high but any length) will now attract a $160 fee, while a $200 fee will be levied on class two vehicles (more than 1.7 metres high but less than 5.5 metres long), with a $400 charge for class three vehicles (more than 1.7 metres high and more than 5.5 metres long).
Minister Pickersgill pointed out that the increases in the toll had been allowed on the basis of an increase in the inflation rate as well as the lengthening of the road as stated by the Toll Order, which was in accordance with the Concession Agreement between Transjamaican Highway Limited and the National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC).
He also noted the changes in the description for all three classes of vehicles with a reduction in the heights to 1.7 metres. As a result he said some Sport Utility Vehicles previously classified as class one, were now classified in class two.
Minister Pickersgill noted that the Highway offered significant benefits to motorists in safety, vehicle operating costs and time.
Furthermore he said the savings to businesses would impact significantly on productivity. Additionally the Transport and Works Minister said since the opening of the first segment of the highway there has been a significant reduction in fatal accidents in that region.
He further challenged motorists to display caution in the use of the roadways during the festive season to minimize accidents and casualties.
Highway 2000 is planned to eventually connect Kingston to Montego Bay and Bushy Park to Ocho Rios. Jamaicans began experiencing the early benefits of the Highway 2000 project when work on the first 13-kilometre segment between Bushy Park and Sandy Bay was completed in 2003.