MP Welcomes Contract for Rehabilitation of Mocho to Arcadia Road

Member of Parliament for South St. James, Hon. Derrick Kellier and residents of Mocho and adjoining communities have welcomed plans to rehabilitate the Mocho to Arcadia main road.

A contract worth $83.9 million was signed on September 4 for some 7.4 kilometres of the roadway to be rehabilitated, with funding provided by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Mocho, Mr. Kellier thanked the residents for their patience in waiting for the road to be repaired.

“It has been a long wait, especially the taxi men and bus men who move people between Montego Bay and Niagra and even up to Arcadia, and those people who have to pass through on a regular basis to go to St. Elizabeth. It has been a long wait for those people who are involved in the tourism industry,” he said.

Mr. Kellier , who is Minister of Agriculture,  said farmers in the communities who sell their produce at the Charles Gordon Market in Montego Bay as well as students attending schools, will benefit greatly from the rehabilitated road.

Meanwhile, a number of the residents expressed appreciation for the project, which is set to begin in two weeks.

Horace Robinson,  a farmer from Arcadia, told JIS News that  he felt good. “We have been asking for this road to be fixed for years. Once repaired, it will reduce the taxi fare from as much as $300 to about $120.  Sometimes we are forced to walk up to three miles to get home, as taxis do not traverse the road, especially at nights,” he said.

Leroy Whyte, another resident of Arcadia, said he really appreciated the project. “I have been forced to walk home several nights, because there is no transport on the road as a result of the road condition,” he said.

The Manchester-based firm, S and G Road Surfacing Materials Limited, will be undertaking the project, which will be supervised by the National Works Agency (NWA).