The National Works Agency (NWA) has resumed a $96 Million road improvement contract along the Grange Hill to Little London corridor in Westmoreland.
Community Relations Officer for the NWA’s Western Region, Janel Ricketts, says that the project, which initially commenced in March 2018, was put on hold in May to facilitate the much needed replacement of faulty water lines along the corridor. Ms Ricketts says that the NWA and the National Water Commission are now in the final stages of completion of the works to commission these new lines.
Works to repair the roadway resumed in mid-November and targets the 9.5 kilometre stretch of roadway between Little London and Grange Hill. This project involves drainage improvement, sidewalk construction, road reconstruction and the patching and local rehabilitation of sections of the roadway. Ms Ricketts says particular emphasis will be placed on mitigating flooding, especially in the vicinity of the Mais Muir Development, which is often inundated following heavy rainfall. This section of the roadway has been raised significantly.
Ms Ricketts says that the project forms part of the second phase of the Major Infrastructure Development Programme (MIDP) in the West. This phase of the programme is valued at approximately $722.3 Million and targets fifteen roadways across the Western Region to include roads such as the Point to Garlands roadway in St. James; the Comfort Hall to Wirefence corridor in Southern Trelawny and the Smithfield roadway in Hanover.
The Grange hill to Little London project is being undertaken by local contractor, N.F. Barnes Construction under a sub-contract with the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). This project is expected to be substantially completed by year end.
