Work on Rio Grande Valley roadway begins this month

The Transport Ministry is to begin work on roadways in the Rio Grande Valley area of Portland, Jamaica later this month.



A section of roadway in the community was the scene of a major accident last December when a market truck overturned leaving 14 people dead.



Yesterday, a returned resident narrowly escaped death after his Honda CRV motor vehicle overturned in a precipice at Friday road in the Rio Grande Valley.



Since the incidents the Member of Parliament for Eastern Portland, Dr. Donald Rhodd has been calling for the government to address the state of roads in the parish.



Transport Minister Mike Henry says repairs to roadways in the Rio Grande Valley are expected to cost over $600 million.



He says he has instructed the National Works Agency (NWA) to put together a programme of work for the comprehensive rehabilitation of roadways in the community.



Communication and Customer Services Manager at the NWA Steven Shaw says the roadwork will begin before September 21 with repairs to retaining walls in sections of the parish.



The repairs to the retaining walls are being funded through the cess being charged on fuel.



In the meantime, the transport minister says the new Rio Grande Bridge is expected in the island this week.



The structure was ordered earlier this year.



Mr. Henry says the structure which will be the longest bridge in Jamaica is to be erected within 18 months.



Additionally he says work on the Alligator Church Bridge is to begin next week.