NWA ready to light up MoBay's Elegant Corridor
Published:Wednesday | April 22, 2015 | 12:00 AMBarrington Flemming
WESTERN BUREAU
The National Works Agency (NWA) will next week begin testing of LED lights recently installed along the Sea Castle to Spot Valley leg of the $248-million project to mount street lamps along Montego Bay's 27.1 kilometre Elegant Corridor.
The agency is hoping to complete the project by the end of May 2015, two months later than the eight-month timetable initially proposed for the conclusion of the venture.
The Elegant Corridor extends from the roundabout at the Sangster International Airport to the Iberostar Hotel and Suites at Rose Hall, Montego Bay.
The $248-million project is being funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund with the NWA as the implementing organisation.
Horace Cotterell, project manager of the NWA western region, told The Gleaner the majority of the lights along the strip have been installed but still need to be energised by the Jamaica Public Service Company, which is said to be in a state of readiness.
"So we will begin the testing of the stretch from Sea Castle to Spot Valley first, as the lights are being installed in circuits ... so we would be able to switch on different segments whenever they are energised," explained Cotterell.
first-leg completion
The NWA official said work was now being done to finalise the laying of cables and then the lighting fixtures for the Sea Castle to Iberostar leg, which should be completed by next week.
Cotterell said while the cables and lighting fixtures are installed, work still has to be done to restore the areas which were dug up, as well as to clean and realign fixtures which were moved out of place.
"We are doing very well, so we should have all in place come the end of May ... the installation, restoration and clean-up work should all be done by that time," said Cotterell. "... we should be able to have all the lights in place by the second week of May and then complete other works in the final weeks."
The $248-million contract was inked between the Tourism Enhancement Fund (representing the Government) and YP Seaton and Associates in July last year for the installation of the LED lights along the corridor.