Troy Bridge reopens to reconnect Trelawny and Manchester communities

The Government has officially opened the rebuilt Troy Bridge, restoring a major rural crossing between South Trelawny and north-west Manchester nearly five years after the previous structure was destroyed. The June 5 ceremony brought together Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, Works Minister Robert Nesta Morgan, MPs Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert and Mikael Phillips, National Works Agency representatives, students and residents.

Speakers said the bridge is central to daily life in the area, serving families, farmers, students, teachers, businesses, taxi operators and emergency services. The closure had forced longer travel, disrupted schooling and affected people who depended on the route to move between communities and markets.

Holness said the original Troy Bridge, completed in 1869, had served for more than 150 years before Tropical Storm Grace damaged it in 2021. He used the opening to argue that Jamaica must modernise old infrastructure while also speeding up approval systems for critical works. He said delays have real costs for residents, including extra travel time, higher transport expenses and reduced access to services.

Morgan said the new structure was designed for long-term resilience, noting that recent storm events tested the crossing while work was under way. He also announced that Cabinet had approved an accelerated bridge programme to replace more than 50 bridges over two and a half years, with western parishes including Trelawny, Hanover, Westmoreland, St James and St Elizabeth among the areas expected to benefit.

The works minister further said major upgrading is planned for the Troy to Warsop road under the SPARK main road programme, valued at $280 million. He indicated that more road projects for the constituencies and parishes would be announced in coming weeks.

Dalrymple-Philibert described the opening as a long-awaited moment for South Trelawny, while Phillips said the bridge showed that representatives from different political sides could work together on issues affecting adjoining constituencies. Community representatives thanked the Government, the MPs, agencies, contractors and students who participated in the ceremony.