Landslides and fallen trees caused by heavy rains this afternoon in the parish of Portland have resulted in six road sections becoming impassable or reduced to single lane traffic.
The blocked roads are those from Buff Bay to Balcares, Wakefield to Hardwar Gap, Balcares to Wakefield, Durham Gap to Chips Hall and Alligator Church to Bellview. The roadway from Buff Bay to White Hall is now only open to single lane access.
Manager of Communication and Customer Services at the National Works Agency, Stephen Shaw says teams have already been mobilised to clear the affected roadways, however this is being hampered by the continuous rainfall.
Mr. Shaw explains that the roadway from Buff Bay to Balcares is blocked between mile post 35 and 36, while the corridor from Wakefield to Hardwar Gap is impassable at Cascade. He says heavy equipment has been dispatched from Kingston to effect the clearance of this roadway.
Mr. Shaw says the roadway from Durham Gap to Chips Hall is blocked in several places between mile post eight and nine. The roadway from Alligator Church to Bellview is also blocked in several places between mile post zero and two.
Mr. Shaw is advising motorists using the roadway from Buff Bay to White Hall to proceed with caution, especially between mile post three and five where landslides have occurred.
He says the surrounding hillsides are heavily saturated, hence further slippage can take place.
