Mark Titus, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

While plans are still in place for the promised dualisation of the Bogue main road in Montego Bay; the National Works Agency (NWA) is uncertain when work will actually begin.

"I can't give you any such information at this time," said Janelle Ricketts, NWA communication officer for the western region.

"We have an issue as to when the work is going to start, but it is still on stream. Unfortunately, I can't discuss the issues surrounding the problems with the project."

Failure to begin

The city's stakeholders say the failure of the authorities to begin work on the major thoroughfare has resulted in the loss of thousands of man hours to businesses; late attendance of children to school; attraction operators losing millions of dollars in cruise ship passenger sales; and flight delays at the Sangster International Airport.

The project, which is estimated to cost $60 million to $80 million, will see the single lanes in each direction being converted to two lanes.

But contrary to earlier reports, an inside source at the NWA said the project has not yet been put to tender.

The source also revealed that the agency was considering the road through Pye River Cemetery as a route.

When questioned about the accuracy of these statements, Ms. Ricketts said: "Some consideration is being given to the use of Pye River, but not necessarily as a but I can confirm that the Bogue road project has to be sent to tender."

Project not tendered

However Pauline Reid, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said she was surprised that the long-standing project was not yet tendered.

"We were of the impression that all the contractual arrangements were in place, because we were told by the NWA that the groundbreaking would have taken place on August 19, so this new development is very disappointing," she said.

mark.titus@gleanerjm.com