Relief for Norwich Heights residents in Portland as $80m road works start

Work started Wednesday on an $80 million road construction project to fix the main thoroughfare leading to the Norwich Heights Housing Scheme in eastern Portland, which is home to more than 1,200 residents.

The three-month contract is being executed by two firms - Millers Electric and High Roller Construction.

On Wednesday, residents met with Member of Parliament (MP), Ann-Marie Vaz, a technical team from the National Works Agency (NWA), along with the contractors, to discuss the scope of work.

Parish Manager of the NWA, Richard Lulan, pointed out that the work will entail asphalting and drainage works on the roadway leading into the subdivision and beyond.

"This work that we are doing now is basically the main road, the main thoroughfare coming in," Lulan told residents. "The heavy flow of water that you’re concerned with is being dealt with by the technical services."

The Norwich Heights Housing Scheme, an Operation Pride project under the People's National Party administration in the early 2000s, was not a smooth operation, as basic amenities, including piped water and roads, were reportedly not provided for the over 412 homeowners.

Several residents lamented Wednesday the challenges they face, highlighting that taxis have refused to ply that route due to the road conditions.

"Like everybody else, I am so happy that finally, we will be getting a new road at Norwich Heights. This is long overdue and we have been very patient. We are really looking forward to this construction, which will ease several decades of burden," said Marlene Henry.

MP Vaz said she is happy about the development. “I understand the frustration that you have endured for decades now, but today the work begins, which will signal the dawn of a new day for all the residents living here," she said.

“I am in agreement that all roads in Jamaica must come under one agency. The people of this country don’t want to hear that the road belongs to RADA (Rural Agricultural Development Authority), the road belongs to parish council (municipal corporation) or the road belongs to the National Works Agency. What the people and citizens of this country want is for their roads to be fixed.

“There is too much bureaucracy involved when all of those are not under one umbrella," she said, noting that today saw the mobilisation of two contractors.

Vaz said the overall cost to repair all the roads, including the off-roads, is $280 million. "So, right now we are in phase one of the project," she said.

- Gareth Davis Snr

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