Spanish Town Road slated for first major overhaul in over two decades, PM Holness

Spanish Town Road, one of the most traversed roadways in the Jamaican capital, is slated for a major overhaul in the next financial year, the Government has announced.

The roadway, which is the main corridor that links Kingston and St Andrew to other parishes, has not been “substantially” repaired “maybe in over 20 or 25 years”, according to Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness.

Holness did not disclose details about the major renovation project, noting that the studies are now being conducted.

But until then, approximately $100 million will be spent to carry out minor upgrading work, he told The Gleaner on Tuesday.

The prime minister made the announcements at a ceremony marking Jamaica Packaging Industries Limited’s (JPI) 70th anniversary and the opening of its new state-of-the-art factory, located along Spanish Town Road.

JPI has been a leading manufacturer and distributor of corrugated paper-based packaging material for over 70 years, a statement from the company said.

The US$12.75 or J$2 billion investment by JPI consolidates the company’s operations at a single location and increases its production capacity by up to 250 per cent.

JPI ceased local manufacturing in 2000 and operated under a distribution model.

Holness said the major renovations slated for the 2026 financial year will make Spanish Town Road “far more efficient” for manufacturing operations and commuters.

The proposed improvement, the prime minister said, was part of the Government’s efforts to provide a boost to local manufacturers amid what he described as a resuscitation of the once vibrant industrial belt spanning Marcus Garvey Drive and Spanish Town Road.

“This is not the only building that has been taken over and renovated along this corridor,” he said, making reference to the JPI factory.

“I can count at least eight. Along Marcus Garvey Drive, the same thing is happening. But more than that, along Mandela Highway, in the Caymanas lands, that is also happening as well.

- Livern Barrett

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