South Coast Highway Improvement Study to be Completed This Fiscal Year

Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Richard Azan says the South Coast Highway Improvement study is at an advanced stage and is to be completed this fiscal year.

He made the disclosure during his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 28.

The study includes the road from Port Antonio, Portland to Harbour View, St. Andrew and from Mandeville, Manchester to Negril, Westmoreland.

Being undertaken by the National Works Agency (NWA), through funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the study will assess and design the preferred alignment of the proposed South Coast highway from Port Antonio to Harbour View (Phase I); and Negril to Mandeville (Phase II).

Also, he said the replanting of mangroves along the Palisadoes shoreline project has been allocated $50 million during the financial year.

In the meantime, he said the Elegant Corridor Lighting Project will get underway this year, utilising a grid-powered street lighting option.

“The tender process is well advanced and the contract is expected to be (signed) shortly,” he informed.

Meanwhile, Mr. Azan said work will begin shortly on the Toms River to Agualta Vale in St. Mary and Sour Sop Turn to Chapleton in Clarendon.

With regards to the Sour Sop Turn to Chapleton in Clarendon, he said the Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Omar Davies will sign the contract next month to start phase one of the 10.5 kilometres of road project.