Fern Gully to be closed for repairs - Options being examined to keep Bog Walk gorge open

The Fern Gully roadway in St Ann is to be closed for nine months effective this Saturday, the National Works Agency (NWA) has announced.

According to the NWA, the closure is to facilitate a more than $500-million repair project as part of the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme.

"Arising from the closure of the roadway, operators of large buses wishing to travel to or from the town of Ocho Rios from the direction of Moneague are being advised to use the alternative route through Chalky Hill," the NWA said in a release.

"Drivers of small vehicles, such as cars and SUVs can use the Breadnut Hill parochial road."

The new works to be undertaken in the Fern Gully are a continuation of the NWA's effort at mitigating flooding in Ocho Rios, St Ann, and reducing the impact of flood waters on the road surface.

Stephen Shaw, manager for communication and customer services at the NWA, said the work to be undertaken would be carried out in two phases.

The announcement comes after a report last week that the Bog Walk gorge in St Catherine was to be closed temporarily to complete pipe-laying work in the area by the National Water Commission. However, Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry yesterday indicated that efforts are being made to examine options to avoid closing the gorge

The minister said after consultations on the matter earlier this week, the Ministry of Transport and Works will be examining all the alternatives, including having the pipe-laying team work at nights, to avoid closing the gorge road to vehicular traffic. He said only under extreme emergency would he authorise the closure of the roadway.