The National Works Agency (NWA) is now making preparations to demolish a number of advertising signs along the Mandela Highway. The signs are located between Six Miles in St. Andrew and the Highway 2000 East/West On Ramp in St. Catherine.
Manager, Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw says that the signs are located within the Rights of Way and will impact the start of work to widen the Mandela Highway. The reconstruction work along the Mandela Highway is slated to commence this weekend.
Mr. Shaw says that an inventory of signs along the three point five kilometers stretch was done in March. Advertising companies, the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation and the St. Catherine Parish Council were all notified of the works and that steps should be taken to remove the signs.
To date, none of the signs have been removed and the NWA has even observed that more Billboards have been erected along the corridor.
Mr. Shaw says that nearly 70 advertising signs have been posted within the construction zone. Approximately 70% of these are not related to government. Signs such as those having to do with speeding and the Toll Road will be removed and stored, however, all others will be destroyed, during the clearing process.
In the meantime, Mr. Shaw says that plans are now underway to ensure that the impact of the works on road users is minimised. A detailed traffic management plan has been fashioned and will be implemented over the next 24 months.
The road widening works are to be undertaken by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Limited. Mr. Shaw says that the company is expected to ensure that four lanes be available at all times for vehicular traffic. Safety features, including the erection of Jersey Barriers and cones are also expected to feature heavily during the construction of the road.
The widening of the Mandela Highway will see among other things, the creation of six lanes, a service road to facilitate businesses along the northern side of the carriageway, construction of an overpass bridge and significant drainage improvement works.
