The rehabilitation of the Soursop Turn to Chapleton corridor was approximately twenty percent complete in mid-June 2015. The objective of the Project is to improve one section of the access road linking the central areas of the Island to the North Coast via May Pen to Trout Hall through Cave Valley to Discovery Bay. The improvement works will enable a reduction in travel time, an improvement in road safety and will cause an increase in economic activity along the newly aligned roadway.
The scope of works emphasises the widening of the existing roadway to accommodate 2.4m shoulders, realignment of the existing roadway to improve line of sight by taking out some of the corners, improvement to the existing drainage system with the installation of new surface and subsurface drains. The thickness of the pavement was achieved by increasing the thickness of the asphalt and road surface features.
The project which was started on September 8, 2014 is expected to be completed in the next 18 months. The 10.5 km of roadway has a projected cost of J$1.28BILLION is a joint venture contracted to Asphaltic Concrete and General Paving. The project is funded by the OPEC Fund for International Development and the Government of Jamaica.
Rock excavation is on-going in the Sour Sop Turn area. Filling and compaction of base and sub- base areas took place near the petrol station in Turners along with cutting of large trees. Drilling works are also being done in preparation for impending blasting.
