Troy Bridge reopens as Holness pushes faster infrastructure approvals

The rebuilt Troy Bridge on the Manchester-Trelawny border was formally opened on Friday, with Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness acknowledging that the replacement of the collapsed crossing was held up by avoidable delays.

The project cost $231 million and restores a key link between the two parishes. Holness said the process showed why Jamaica needs to reform the way major infrastructure works are approved and delivered, arguing that repeated studies and other requirements can add heavy costs and slow construction.

According to the Prime Minister, the bridge could have cost at least 30 per cent less if it had been built four years earlier. He said critical public works should not be trapped in systems where the preparation takes longer than the building itself.

Holness pointed to the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority, NIRA, bill, which was recently passed in Parliament, as part of the Government’s effort to speed up important and large-scale infrastructure projects.

The original Troy Bridge, built in 1896, stood for about 125 years before a tropical storm caused it to collapse in 2021. The Prime Minister noted that while the first bridge took one year to construct, its replacement has taken nearly five years to complete.

He said the long closure created real costs for people who depended on the crossing. Farmers had to travel longer routes to reach markets, students spent more time commuting, businesses faced higher transportation expenses, and emergency vehicles risked being delayed.

The collapsed crossing also created danger for residents. There were several near misses and accidents as people, including children, moved between the two sides of the broken bridge.

Robert Morgan, the minister with responsibility for road works, said the new structure was designed to endure harsh weather. He said the project faced severe weather during its contract and construction periods, including Beryl, Rafael and Melissa. Morgan said that although the approaches to the bridge were washed out, the bridge itself remained standing in the river.