Fri | May 22, 2026

Heavy rains cause major flooding, traffic gridlock in Corporate Area

Published:Tuesday | October 23, 2018 | 12:00 AM
Scores of commuters make every effort to board a Waterford-bound Jamaica Urban Transit Corporation bus at the South Parade bus terminal in downtown Kingston. The prospect of getting public buses was minimal due to gridlock traffic, a side-effect of the heavy rains across Kingston on Tuesday. Gladstone Taylor/Photographer

Heavy rains this evening caused flooding, which resulted in gridlock along some roads in the Corporate Area. Major thoroughfares such as Molynes Road, Marcus Garvey Drive and New Kingston saw traffic at a virtual standstill as frustrated motorists struggled to make their way through peak-hour traffic.

In an interview on RJR’s Beyond The Headlines, Stephen Shaw, communications manager at the National Works Agency, advised motorists to avoid the Marcus Garvey Drive area, as traffic was at a standstill. He indicated that the water levels are very high in the Corporate Area, and urged motorists to take necessary precautions.

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie, on the same programme, indicated that the situation would have been compounded by construction taking place in some areas. He said a team has been deployed across various sections of the Corporate Area to assess any damage that the rains would have caused.

In the meantime, motorists have been voicing their annoyance at being stuck in traffic after having left their offices more than two hours ago.

“I’m coming all the way from Linstead, so I experienced everything. When we got to Cross Roads, it was one chaos. Di whole ah Island Grill flood out. We couldn’t move,” said one gentleman who spoke with our news team.

“Mi just turn back. Mi lef work from five o’clock and after two hours I was still stuck at Moby Dick (downtown Kingston). 

We want to hear from you! Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169, email us at editors@gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.