Holness Unveils Integrated North Coast Highway Expansion Plan in Budget Debate

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness has rolled out an ambitious, joined-up infrastructure agenda intended to break long-standing traffic bottlenecks along Jamaica's north coast and clear the way for fresh tourism and economic gains.

Delivering his presentation in the 2026/27 Budget Debate in Parliament on March 19, 2026, the Prime Minister revealed that feasibility studies are already in motion for the North-South Highway Extension Project. The plan introduces two new tolled, high-speed spurs running from Mammee Bay — one heading west to Discovery Bay and another east to Tower Isle. According to the PM, these corridors are intended to pull through-traffic off existing routes, sharply trim journey times, and open up fresh land for investment.

A second phase, the North Coast Highway Improvement Project, will follow. It includes the dualisation of the stretch from Montego Bay to Drax Hall, a move designed to widen capacity and lift safety standards along one of Jamaica's most heavily travelled corridors.

"The Drax Hall corridor is not a problem to be managed—it is a success story to be expanded," Holness said. "With this investment, we give it the infrastructure it deserves and unlock the next chapter of growth along Jamaica's most visited coastline."

The Prime Minister also sketched out a wider national ambition: a continuous, modern highway grid stitching together every parish, port, airport, and major economic hub into one seamless network. Such a system, he argued, would cut logistics expenses, unlock new development zones, and bolster the country's ability to recover from disasters.

Work has already begun on the Port Antonio Bypass, an 18-kilometre route that will steer traffic away from the town centre while freeing up space for housing, commerce, and other economic activity.

"This US$81-million project is the essential precondition for everything else the Master Plan seeks to achieve. The 18-kilometre corridor will be delivered in two phases, the first spanning Norwich to Turtle Crawl Harbour, seven kilometres of four-lane roadway, new bridges, and upgraded drainage, built inland and elevated to protect against storm surges and coastal erosion," he explained.

Drawing on lessons from Hurricane Melissa, Holness said the administration is moving away from piecemeal infrastructure delivery toward a more integrated model that aligns roads, drainage, utilities, and climate resilience from the earliest design stages.

"Building in silos has cost us…we are moving to a disciplined, integrated approach, planning well, building well, and maintaining consistently so we never pay twice," the Prime Minister noted.

Underpinning the new approach are governance changes, among them the establishment of a One Road Authority tasked with tightening coordination, accountability, and lifecycle management across the national road network.