NWA reports steady progress reopening roads in Western Jamaica impacted by Hurricane Melissa

The National Works Agency (NWA) has been making steady progress in reopening roadways across western Jamaica that were impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

Community Relations Officer for the NWA’s Western Office, Janel Ricketts, reports that despite widespread damage across the region, most affected roadways have now been reopened to at least single-lane access.

“We had quite a bit of damage in terms of inundation, washed down silt and debris, breakaways, fallen trees and poles. The team has been busy having that cleared, and work continues in that regard,” she told JIS News.

Ricketts noted that one of the most severely affected areas is along the Barnett to Adelphi roadway, where a section near Chelsea in St. James was completely eroded by a nearby river, rendering it inaccessible.

She further advised that temporary reinstatement work is now under way to restore access to the busy corridor, while a permanent engineering solution is being actively planned.

“The intention is to, first, clear some debris in that area and then offer some temporary reinstatement until we are able to permanently fix the road,” Ricketts said.

“It’s a heavily used corridor. So, being without that section now, even though there are alternative routes, is quite an inconvenience for road users. We are now in the process of having that area reopened. It will take us some time, based on the level of erosion, but we are working assiduously to have the situation corrected,” she added.

- JIS News

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