Tough days ahead - Commuters expect hardships during gorge closure

With the Bog Walk gorge in St Catherine scheduled to be closed for two months at the end of March, some persons are already predicting a rough period ahead.

It is expected that commuters will have to pay more for a longer ride.

One such commuter is Althea Munroe, who said she travels the route five days per week to her job. She said she expects to pay up to twice her usual fare to travel the alternative routes.

"On bus, I paid $100, and on taxi, I paid $140, but when the road close, I will have to pay even $200 to go to Spanish Town," she said.

"I can't manage it because is not like I am getting an increase in my salary, so it is going to be rough," she said.

The National Works Agency (NWA) said it would be working with the National Water Commission, which is undertaking a major pipe-laying project in the gorge, to repair alternative routes to accommodate the diversion of traffic.

Stephen Shaw, the NWA's communications manager, said the agency is waiting on the go-ahead from the commission to commence the roadwork.

The alternative routes to the Bog Walk gorge are via Barry and Sligoville.