Most Roads Reopened After Heavy Rain

The National Works Agency (NWA) has reopened most of the roadways affected by the recent flooding. These include the Bog Walk Gorge, where work to clear debris from the roadway is continuing. Communication Manager at the NWA, Stephen Shaw says the Agency is advising motorists to the use the road in the Bog Walk Gorge with extreme caution.
“In the main we have been able to reopen most of the roadways that were affected by fallen trees, land slippages and silt. Where we have had a problem is with roadways that are inundated. There is very little that we can do but to await the waters to recede,” Mr. Shaw told JIS News today (October 13).
One such area is the Middle Quarters main road in St. Elizabeth which is still flooded. The NWA is advising that motorists travelling in this area should use the detour through Dunsandale. In that parish too the road from Big Yard to Top Hill is also flooded.
In St. Thomas the Yallahs Fording remains closed as the Yallahs River is in spate. The situation in Hanover is being watched where water is rising near the road from Old Pen to Chester.
Some of the roadways in St. Andrew that have been reopened are Golden Spring to Mount Airy, Mount Airy to Coakley, Stony Hill to Parks Road and in St. Mary, Louisburg to Freetown and Border to Cuffy Gully.
In St. Thomas the roads from Bath to Bath Fountain, Bath to Hartley and Windsor Forest to Mahogany Vale have been cleared. The roads from Greenvale to Spur Tree, Spur Tree to Gutters and Gutters to Downs in Manchester have also been cleared.
Turning to the Corporate Area Mr. Shaw explained that there is a drainage problem in the Marcus Garvey Drive area of Kingston. “The volume is greater than the capacity. In addition to that the continuous disposal of garbage in the waterways resulting in them being clogged whenever the rain falls is also a big issue,” he said. As a result the water does not run off to the sea as quickly as it should.
“Apart from the mitigation programmes that have been implemented by the NWA in the past two years we have also, through our rehabilitation programmes, been improving the level of drainage that we put down beneath our road surfaces,” Mr. Shaw noted. “We have recognized that where you have proper drainage the road stands a better chance of existing for its designed life so we have been spending a lot of money ensuring that our drains are in tip top condition,” he added. However, he explained that major problems occur when residents dump garbage into the drains and gullies.
In the meantime, he is encouraging all Jamaicans to exercise caution while traveling along the road network. The NWA spokesman has pointed out that since the rains many potholes have developed and the possibility of accidents occurring on the roads has increased.