Letter of the Day | Fix main roads first
Published:Thursday | December 19, 2024 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
The Government has embarked on two road programmes using the acronyms SPARK (Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network) and REACH (Relief Emergency Assistance and Community Help). To date, no road rehabilitation has started under SPARK because the contract signing was on December 5, 2024, notwithstanding the programme being announced in March 2023 during the Budget presentation. It is understood that the REACH programme is mainly to fill potholes on heavily trafficked main roads, as well as help with repairing infrastructure damaged during hurricane Beryl.
In November 2020, the National Works Agency told the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee of Parliament that it was estimated that over $1 trillion was needed to rehabilitate the road network in Jamaica. So, the appropriation of $45 billion in 2024 is welcomed although, nominally, it’s only about four per cent of what was required five years ago.
It is the view of some persons that the SPARK money should have been used to overhaul main roads first, and REACH, supplemented by other funds, be used to start addressing community roads. The rationale is that although community roads need urgent attention, main roads are in similar dire state of disrepair and need to be in proper condition to cope with the heavier traffic, in addition to allowing for easier traffic flow. Motorists can slowly navigate community roads until it is possible to revamp them.
It cannot be overstated how dilapidated most, if not all, main roads are in Jamaica. The bumpy surfaces, interspersed with ruts and potholes, are unbearable and undeserving, and require a makeover instead of merely filling the potholes.
The thoroughfare starting at Williamsfield, all the way to Spur Tree via Winston Jones Highway, the Greenvale roundabout, Hatsfield and Kingsland are examples of main roads that are screaming for proper surfaces. And there are so many other primary streets in Manchester, plus the rest of Jamaica. Hence, the decision to forego those roads for areas with significantly less commuting vehicles is arguably injudicious.
For the ensuing years, prudence should dictate that the Government makes noteworthy allocations in each Budget cycle to accelerate improvements to our roads – in communities, but particularly the main roadways.
PETER A. P. GORDON
Mandeville, Jamaica