The National Works Agency (NWA) is advising that the plan to close the Fern Gully main road in St. Ann has been delayed. The corridor will now be closed on Monday, April 04, 2011, for nine months. The delay was necessary to undertake additional improvement works along the alternative routes and install the relevant detour signs.
Closure is to facilitate a 500 million dollar repair project, which is part of the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP). As a result of this closure, 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. Drivers of small vehicles, such as cars and SUVs can use the Breadnut Hill parochial road, at Colegate just outside the entrance to Fern Gully.
The works that are to be undertaken in the Fern Gully is a continuation of the NWA’s effort at mitigating flooding in the town of Ocho Rios and reduce the impact of floodwaters on the road surface.
Manager for Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw says that the work to be undertaken will be done in two phases. Phase one will involve the construction of a rigid pavement (concrete road) along a 1.6 kilometers section of the roadway, between the entrance to the gully and Hinds Gully.
Phase two of the project, will see major drainage improvement works being undertaken. Plans are to construct a concrete “U” drain along with five box culverts along a 1.4-kilometre section located between Harrison Town and Milford Road.
Phases two and three works will complement work which was completed in 2010, when approximately six kilometers of roadway from Colgate to Hinds Gully was repaved and drains reopened. That work was valued at over 100 million dollars.
