UK, Jamaica partner to build bridges
Published:Saturday | January 25, 2025 | 4:12 AMSashana Small/Staff Reporter
Fifty-five bridges across Jamaica are set to be upgraded or replaced as part of the Accelerated Bridge Renewal Programme, a collaborative initiative between the Government of Jamaica and the United Kingdom (UK).
During Thursday’s signing ceremony for the framework of cooperation, British High Commissioner to Jamaica Judith Slater stressed that the 55-bridge figure is just the beginning, with potential for further expansion. She highlighted that the programme is a significant milestone in the shared commitment of both countries to modernise infrastructure and promote sustainable development.
“The need for replacement bridges was already acute, but became more acute with Hurricane Beryl and later on in the year, Tropical Storm Rafael. So we’re really working hard to accelerate the work we were already doing to help reconnect communities, alleviate traffic caused by damaged or defunct bridges and as for the UK, try to make a really significant contribution to Jamaica,” she said.
The programme is expected to cost approximately US$100 million, Finance Minister Fayval Williams told The Gleaner.
Funding is being done through UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK government’s export credit agency that fosters international trade and investment by offering financing solutions to UK exporters.
An initial framework of cooperation was established in April 2024 through a memorandum of understanding signed by the minister of finance and UKEF.
Slater outlined that the next steps would involve contract signing, followed by the delivery and installation of the bridges. She emphasised the programme’s potential to foster long-term partnerships between UK companies and Jamaican stakeholders.
The UK companies engaged are Acrow, a global leader in design, manufacturing, and supply with 75 years of experience across 150 countries, and Lagan, a leading specialist contracting business that specialises in civil engineering.
“As we celebrate this milestone tonight, let’s look forward to a future filled with opportunity. The UK remains committed to working with Jamaica to unlock new possibilities for trade, investment and shared prosperity,” Slater stated.
Sharing that Jamaica has more than 800 bridges with many being old and dilapidated, Robert Morgan, minister with responsibility for works, expressed gratitude to the UK government for being “a friend of Jamaica for a very long time”.
“I can’t list the numerable partnerships that we have had over the decades, and the great contributions that both Jamaica and the UK have made to our individual countries. And I think that this bridge programme is another step in building stronger partnerships…between both countries,” he said.
Meanwhile, Williams stressed that signing of the framework of cooperation signals the Government’s commitment to move forward with the programme.
The finance minister also emphasised the importance of developing sustainable infrastructure.
“Building bridges, updating the ones we have will mean that our network infrastructure is a bit more resilient,” she said.
“There is no developed economy in the world that has not looked to develop its highways, its streets… its transportation infrastructure because we know that there is a lot of productivity lost when persons are not able to get from A to B in the time that they expect to get there, the goods are not able to be moved as quickly as they should be moved,” she added.