Gov't says road projects must be paced to minimise disruptions

 

Works Minister Robert Morgan says the government is eager to undertake and accelerate expansion projects along major corridors in the Corporate Area, but has acknowledged that moving faster could cause greater disruptions for the public in the short term. 

 

This forms part of the government's plan to improve road capacity amid chronic traffic delays. 

 

During his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon, Minister Morgan said the widening of critical roadways and associated water and sewage works, including Arthur Wint Drive and Camp Road, are in the tendering process. 

 

But he said while other roads such as Tom Redcam Drive are next in line, the government must strategically regulate the pace of works to not create further traffic headaches.

 

"I want to apologise in advance to the people of Kingston and St. Andrew, as when these projects begin before the end of the year, there will be disruption. And that's a part of the reason why we would love to start East Kingston and Lady Musgrave at the same time; we would love to start Tom Redcam Drive at the same time. These projects are ready to be implemented.

 

"We would love to start the new entry to Portmore and Municipal Boulevard at the same time. We would love to replace the bridge over Sandy Gully to Ken Hill Drive at the same time. But, Madam Speaker, while this government has a development ethos, the government also has compassion. So the Prime Minister has instructed that we should build as quickly as we can, but we must also sequence the projects with consideration for the motoring public, phasing it in," the minister explained. 

 

At the same time, Minister Morgan said the 15-kilometre Montego Bay Perimeter Road in St. James is 85 per cent complete and will officially be opened by October. 

 

The road is expected to ease bottlenecks in Montego Bay.