Motorists urged to slow down as poor road conditions fuelling crashes in St Andrew
Published:Wednesday | December 4, 2024 | 12:11 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
Motorists are being urged to exercise caution while traversing some of the major thoroughfares in the Corporate Area, chiefly roadways along upper St Andrew, as accident reports are piling up due in large part to drivers struggling to manoeuvre along poor road surfaces.
The St Andrew North police traffic department processes the bulk of the road accidents within the division.
The Gleaner understands that the division has recorded more than 2,000 accidents since the start of the year.
One of the most recent incidents took place around 8:40 p.m. Sunday and involved a white Subaru and grey Toyota Probox.
The driver of the Probox accepted responsibility for the crash and said he was on the wrong side of the road because of a massive, gaping hole at Red Gal Ring.
The police named sections of Long Lane, Cassava Piece Road, North Avenue, White Hall and sections of Grants Pen Road where the road is in a deplorable condition and traffic accidents occur.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Gary McKenzie, head of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB), recently told motorists traversing the nations roads to exercise caution, citing the recent heavy rains that have impacted road conditions.
The Government has announced that the $3-billion REACH programme and $45-billion Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme are to be continued and rolled out in days and weeks, respectively.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who is also the minister of works, on August 31 announced the launch of the REACH Road Rehab Programme, a comprehensive national road rehabilitation initiative.
This programme, according to the Government, is designed to address critical road infrastructure needs across the island, with a specific focus on damage caused by recent weather events, including Hurricane Beryl, as well as the execution of routine road maintenance.
ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME
The SPARK initiative is reportedly aimed at significantly upgrading Jamaica’s infrastructure, with a focus on critical improvements to road networks and water systems.
The SPARK Programme will target both major and local roadways, undertaking essential work such as pavement resurfacing, drainage improvements, retaining wall construction, and the installation of water pipelines and fibre-optic ducts.
The Government stated that the initiative is designed to modernise Jamaica’s transportation infrastructure, improve safety, and enhance the quality of life for citizens islandwide.
Natalie Bloomfield, communications officer at the National Works Agency (NWA), told RJR News on Tuesday that motorists are aware that there are roadways that are not in the best condition at this time and the NWA and other agencies are working to get the roadways in driveable condition.
“We had some impact from the rainfall, to material, to the works already done and so on, so we have now reschedule these works to resume on December 6, which is this Friday. So persons are going to see the works team out in earnest getting these roads done so that persons can have improved surfaces going into the Christmas season,” Bloomfield said of REACH, adding that motorists should proceed with caution, especially during the holidays.