The government’s two billion dollar works programme has made steady progress in the parish of St. Ann. Minister with responsibility for Works in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Robert Morgan says that to date, some 70% of targeted roads in the garden parish have received attention. These include sections of the North-coast Highway, between Ocho Rios and Discovery Bay, the main road from Bamboo to Browns Town and that from Ocho Rios to Hopewell.
The government’s two-billion-dollar special programme being implemented as part of the Relief Emergency Assistance and Community Help (REACH) programme targets sections of the main road network. These roads have been impacted by heavy rains that affected the island between July and early December 2024.
Minister Morgan says that steady progress is being made in all 14 parishes with targeted roads being between 10% and 50% complete. The programme is expected to be completed by the end of February.
The entire REACH programme is valued at five billion dollars. Three billion dollars is being spent on other roads to include some parochial roads. Minister Morgan says that steady progress is also being made with this aspect of the programme with activities taking place even on weekends.
He says that the respite in the heavy rains is welcomed as it is allowing the contractors working on behalf of the government to accelerate the pace of the works across the island.
Minister Morgan is reminding motorists to exercise caution at this time, especially along corridors that are being prepared for works. The targeted areas are usually squared for patching. He is advising motorists to reduce speeds as they navigate the spaces that are expected to be patched within four days of preparation.
