Jarmila Jackson, Features Writer

A woman winces as she is splashed while piggybacking across the Hope River in Harbour View, St Andrew, for a fee of $200. - photos by Norman Grindley/acting Photography editor

From the market vendor to the business executive, and even the entrepreneur, man, woman, child and dog ventured across the Hope River yesterday to ensure that business did not suffer. Onions, bananas and even mangoes were among produce being carried across the river from the east bank, while baked goods were being sold from a truck parked on the west bank. Soft music played from speakers, beckoning persons to purchase CDs.

Hundreds stood on the banks of the river, looking on as the Bailey bridge was being installed, while customer-service representatives from the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) ushered residents to buses where they could purchase tickets to get into town.

"I cannot risk this collapsing," said Mike Henry, minister of transport and works. "We have identified an area further upstream to build a ford for the heavy-duty vehicles which will not be allowed on this bridge. We will install traffic lights to control traffic, and JUTC bus shuttles will continue if necessary, because I am certain this bridge can handle the weight of a JUTC bus."

He added: "I have ordered more Bailey bridges, but I cannot guarantee that they will not collapse, because we are still in the hurricane season."

Construction of the ford is set to begin tomorrow and is expected to be finished by midday.

These men (right) carry ground provisions across the river as two others wait to take baked products to the other side.

A passenger purchases a bus ticket at a makeshift ticket office before boarding a Jamaica Urban Transit Company bus routed to downtown Kingston yesterday morning.

A man dries a woman's feet after he washed them with a disinfectant solution yesterday. The woman had just crossed the muddy river. The man charged $20 for the service, which included lotion.