Holness pledges fix for mountain roads
Published:Wednesday | March 2, 2022 | 12:09 AMAsha Wilks/Gleaner Writer
Commuters using the ramshackle Dustry Road have been promised that moderate repairs will be effected to the corridor during the new fiscal year that starts on April 1.
But St Andrew East Rural Member of Parliament Juliet Holness has cautioned that the estimated $60-million overhaul price tag was prohibitive, even in the context of the $912-billion budget for 2022-23.
Holness’ constituency spans vast swathes of mainly hilly territory bordering several other political zones – a matter she has repeatedly raised in her advocacy for more annual funding for members of parliament like herself.
The small population numbers of some communities have made them more prone to being overlooked in the competitive political space for funding amid budgetary constraints.
“We don’t have a lot of people living there,” said Holness, referencing the raw pragmatism of assessing how, and where, state funds are directed.
Funds will be channelled into ameliorating the thoroughfare, which is a key node for tourists entering Maryland from Irish Town. The works are expected to increase traffic flows and sales opportunities to vendors in the Maryland town square.
After constituency consultations, Holness disclosed that a $2-million community project will commence for the repair of the road from Robertsfield to Halls Delight – about nine kilometres – in the Mavis Bank area.
An additional $1 million will be allocated from the Constituency Development Fund for a community project for Dustry Road.
Holness disclosed that a cement company had contributed 500 bags of cement, which will be distributed throughout the constituency to assist with road repair.
“One community got already ... so we’re going to keep at it and to whatever extent we can ... if we can do more, we will continue to try and do more,” she assured the residents.
The lawmaker said that patching would continue to be undertaken along Maryland’s main route, with certain parts requiring riprap – a permanent layer of angular stone that facilitates water run-off.
Holness also encouraged residents to develop more community projects that could benefit a large number of persons instead of a limited few.
The second-term MP stated that she would not be satisfied until St Andrew East Rural’s infrastructure was improved compared to when she was first elected.
“Otherwise I am wasting my time, so I have to make a meaningful contribution,” said Holness.