Work Progressing on Ferris to Mackfield Road in Westmoreland

Work is progressing on the Ferris to Mackfield roadway in Westmoreland, says Community Relations Officer at the National Works Agency (NWA), Western office, Janel Ricketts.

Speaking to JIS News, Ms. Ricketts said the project is about 22 per cent complete, and that the US$24.9-million project is on track to meet the 18-month completion date.

“We are engaged in quite a bit of activities. For example, there is significant excavation, and the road will be widened. We are clearing areas to make way for the wider thoroughfare, so there is significant filling of sections of the roadway,” she explained.

The road reconstruction project, which commenced in April of this year, will not only see the 14-kilometre stretch of roadway being widened but there will also be improvement in the drains and pedestrian walkways.

Ms. Ricketts also noted that activities geared towards improving drainage systems and the construction of retaining walls have commenced.

“We are trying to clear the area as best as possible, so we can have the areas filled, and then, from there, move on to the asphalting. We are in the preliminary stage in terms of getting the roadway ready for filling and drainage improvement,” she added.

She said that while recent rainfall in the parish hampered construction, contractors have been working diligently to make up for lost time, thereby ensuring that the completion deadline will be met.

Ms. Ricketts pointed out that major changes have been put in place and are visible to motorists traversing the thoroughfare.

“The roadway is already taking shape, so persons can see the new alignment on certain sections. For example, from the Ferris Cross end, persons are able to look and immediately visualise how the road will look. We have other sections, as well, where the excavation has now been completed and where there is filling, so we have gone quite a way in terms of that preliminary effort,” she outlined.

The Ferris to Mackfield road construction, being managed by the National Works Agency (NWA), seeks to improve the north-south roads linking Savanna-la-Mar and Black River to Montego Bay.

The project is being executed under the Major Infrastructure Development Programme (MIDP) and is being undertaken by the China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC).