The National Works Agency (NWA) is undertaking a $4 million dollar effort aimed at increasing the capacity of a section of the North Gully, which runs through the Capital Heights community in Central St. James.
Community Relations Officer for the NWA’s Western Region, Janel Ricketts, says that this latest effort by the NWA represents the third phase of a targeted approach to mitigating flooding in the area.
Ms. Ricketts says that the first phase of the project was completed in 2013 and saw approximately $27 million being spent to construct a 60 metre concrete channel. While the second phase, which targeted a further 30 metre of the drain, was completed in 2015.
Ms. Ricketts added that the earlier phases of the project have significantly improved the carrying capacity of the targeted sections of the North Gully, thereby reducing the instances of flooding in the area. She says that the latest phase of the project targets 12 metres of the Gully and will augment the work which has been completed previously.
This project involves the demolition of a section of the gully and the construction of a larger capacity concrete “u” drain.
The project which got underway in late November 2016 is expected to be completed in early January 2017.
