$800 million rehabilitation for Falmouth to Springvale roadway in Trelawny

The Government is spending more than $800 million to undertake the rehabilitation of the Falmouth to Springvale roadway in Trelawny.

The project is being implemented by the National Works Agency (NWA), under its Maintenance of Secondary Roads Programme.

Phase one of the project, which involves the rehabilitation of the Wakefield to Deeside roadway, is currently being done at a cost of some $200 million.

Work on the four-kilometre section of road is slated to be completed in November.

The official ground broking for the Falmouth to Springvale road rehabilitation project happened on Wednesday and was led by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Everald Warmington.

Commenting on the Wakefield to Deeside segment, Warmington said the roadway plays a vital role in socio-economic activities of the surrounding communities, as it provides access to farms, schools, health centres and the parish capital.

The roadway links other communities, such as Martha Brae, Granville, Hammersmith, Bounty Hall, Tilson, Peru, Green Park, Friendship, Dromilly and Bunkers Hill.

It is also linked to the main town of Falmouth, Maroon Town in St James and St Elizabeth.

Warmington highlighted that over time, the condition of the roadway had significantly deteriorated, which has given rise to the need for rehabilitation works.

“The alternate route, [which is] Martha Brae through Peru, Bunkers Hill, Dromilly to Deeside, is not considered to be a viable option as the condition of the different corridors significantly increase commute time,” he outlined.

The scope of work on the road includes de-bushing and trimming of banks, earthworks, cleaning of drains, earth drains, outlets, and culverts, construction of catch drains, concrete U and V drains and the installation of pipe culverts.

There will also be pavement works, such as base course, prime coat, and asphaltic concrete overlay, construction of kerb and channel drains and the patching and repair of potholes.

Warmington noted that phase two of the project, work on the Martha Brae to Bounty Hall roadway, is slated to begin early next financial year, and this will be done at an additional $200 million.

- JIS News

Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.