Portmore, st. catherine

Home to over 200,000 residents, the municipality of Portmore in St. Catherine, has been steadily increasing in population. With the influx of people, traffic management has become a major issue. In order to combat this, the National Works Agency (NWA) in partnership with the West Indies Home Contractors (WIHCON) and the Portmore Municipal Corporation sought to procure new traffic signals for smoother traffic flow and safer commuting in the space. The newly installed traffic lights came at an integral time with the reopening of school for the academic year 2025/2026. They were installed at the busy CHEC representatives toil on the installation of formwork for foundation beams intersection of George Lee Boulevard, Portmore Drive, and Western Parade. Manager of Communication and A sign unveiled in the vicinity of the traffic signals Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw, when asked about the newly- commissioned traffic signals told the “Each year, we experience heavier traffic volumes at the start of the Roadster, “The residents of Portmore school term. By commissioning these signals before that time, we have long expressed concern about aim to ensure smoother traffic movement and reduce potential congestion and pedestrian safety bottlenecks,” Shaw added. Matters of traffic management are further along these busy routes. The new compounded by the dualisation of the Grange Lane roadway, another signals are part of our broader plan project undertaken by the NWA. to improve mobility and safety across the municipality, particularly as we The new traffic lights came at a cost of $18,086,986 and were installed approached the reopening of schools.” by contractors Diverse Services and Construction Limited. The scope With thousands of students returning of works included the installation of new overhead signals equipped to classrooms and parents resuming with vehicle sensors, upgraded road markings to accommodate the their regular commuting routines, the elderly and visually impaired, and the addition of pedestrian facilities signalization of George Lee Boulevard, at critical crossing points such as press buttons to aid pedestrians in Portmore Drive, and Western Parade is crossing. expected to ease congestion and improve safety during peak hours. In Portmore specifically, the NWA continues to respond to the area’s rapid residential and commercial growth, especially with talks about Three of the six bases, on which the girders will be constructed, are now complete. 20 ROADSTER Volume 52, Issue 77 | September 2025 Volume 52, Issue 77 | September 2025 ROADSTER 5 New Traffic signals for busy thoroughfare in Portmore, St. Catherine ... continue from page 4 Girder Construction Activities at Nightingale Grove Bridge Site in St. Catherine ... continue from page 19 The girder construction activities are now progressing steadily even while weather conditions are being monitored. So far, three of six steel reinforced concrete bases on which the girders will be constructed have been completed. More than a year has elapsed since the start of the contract and there is much yet to be done on the project. Outstanding activities include river training and protection works, the completion of the new structure, the paving of approach roads and signs and marking. The works, however, are now progressing apace and all concerned, to include project team, communities and public transport operators, look forward to a new structure that is of superior quality and that is more reliable. Vehicular traffic accessing the intersection since the new traffic signals were installed Portmore becoming the 15th parish of Jamaica. The number of vehicles within the space has placed significant pressure on the road network. The municipality’s increasing population has led to higher vehicle volumes, making it imperative for traffic systems to evolve. By implementing these upgrades, the NWA seeks not only to improve traffic efficiency but also to enhance quality of life for residents—making daily commutes less stressful, travel times shorter, and roadways safer for all users. The commissioning of these new traffic signals forms part of the NWA’s broader commitment to creating safe, reliable and quality roads across Jamaica. As urban development continues to expand, the Agency’s proactive measures in traffic management play a crucial role in supporting how Jamaica responds to its growing population, especially in areas like Portmore that has become increasingly appealing to citizens due to its fast-rising urban A previously absent river returned to reclaim it place on site. status. “Every new signal, every upgraded intersection, is a step toward a safer Jamaica,” Shaw emphasized. “We are building systems that anticipate growth, protect our people, and support national development.” FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM! As Portmore continues to thrive as the country’s fastest-growing urban center, the physical enhancement of the traffic signals represents more of what is to come which is a larger framework that will make Jamaica comparable @nwajamaica with our Caribbean counterparts. 6 ROADSTER Volume 52, Issue 77 | September 2025 Volume 52, Issue 77 | September 2025 ROADSTER 19 NWA partners with JPSCo. Girder Construction Activities at Nightingale Grove Bridge Site in St. Catherine ... continue from page 18 by St. Catherine’s “road pilots”, aka taxi men, as well as other members of the community. and lighting the way Activities included the construction of a marl platform atop the earth base which serves as a site yard for the girder construction. The area was cordoned off with a netted barrier and there was some amount of river shaping activities that became necessary. This proved to be quite timely as the river, which had taken an unofficial leave of absence in previous weeks, slowly returned following rainfall during the month of September into October. View of site yard to the left, properly delineated, and a then thinly marled detour road to facilitate traffic movements Vandalised Panel Box along the Elegant Corridor, St. James The National Works Agency (NWA) and the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo.) Limited have joined forces and are illuminating several corridors in St. James, Kingston and St. Andrew. The project valued at over one billion dollars has already seen roads in both St. Andrew and St. James benefitting as they have been outfitted with new LED lights. Ten corridors are being targeted under this initiative. The roads are: • The Elegant Corridor – Sangester International Airport to Iberorstar Hotel, St. James (Phases 1 and 2) • Bogue Road (Reading Stop Light to Vista Print Stop Light) • Harbour View Roundabout to Rockfort • Harbour View East (to St. Benedicts Church) • Dunrobin Road (Constant Spring Road to Molynes Road) • Washington Boulevard (Molynes Road to Six Miles) • Liguanea to Lady Musgrave Intersection • Trafalgar Road (Pulse to Spic and Span) To date, works have been completed along the Elegant Corridor, Bogue Road, the stretch from Molynes Road to Constant Spring Road (Dunrobin Avenue) and that from Liguanea Avenue to Lady Musgrave Road. Work continues on the other corridors. Strategically placed construction signs inform public about work and speed requirements. continue on next page 18 ROADSTER Volume 52, Issue 77 | September 2025 Volume 52, Issue 77 | September 2025 ROADSTER 7