Montego Bay's streets to get $116m repairs

The National Works Agency (NWA) is now making final preparations to implement a more than $116-million work programme in the western city of Montego Bay, St James.

The programme will see work being undertaken in the vicinity of the Sangster International Airport, along Sunset Boulevard and Gloucester Avenue, as well as along Howard Cooke Boulevard.

Manager of communication and customer services at the NWA Stephen Shaw says repair work is slated to commence on the road around the Sangster Airport roundabout this week. The work which is valued at $45 million will involve the removal of worn asphalt, the construction of kerbs and sidewalks, as well as repaving with asphaltic concrete.

Working day and nights

Repair work is also slated to commence before the end of the month on the eastbound Montego River Bridge along Howard Cooke Boulevard. The expansion joints on the structure have been damaged and require retrofitting. The eastbound lanes of the bridge - that is the lanes closer to the sea - will be closed for one week. Shaw says in order to minimise the effect of these works on traffic movement, work will be undertaken on both approaches simultaneously at daytime and at nights.

Gloucester Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, popularly known as the Hip Strip, are also to be improved. The 3.4 kilometre stretch is to be rehabilitated at a cost of $71 million. The work will include the removal of worn asphalt, patching of potholes, construction of drains, sidewalks and paving of the entire length of road with asphaltic concrete.

Shaw says concrete works will be done during the daytime, while other works will be done between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. to reduce the impact of the project on traffic movement.

The NWA is asking motorists to obey the posted warning signs and the instructions of flag persons while work on these projects is in progress.