Millions needed to repair roadways across Kingston and St Andrew
Published:Wednesday | November 22, 2017 | 12:00 AMPaul Clarke
Mayor of Kingston Delroy Williams says that plans by his municipality to effect well-needed road repairs, as a result of continued rainfall in recent weeks, will run into millions of dollars.
The roadwork is to be undertaken in tandem with the planned rehabilitation and road-patching effort of the National Works Agency (NWA).
"I know for us that we had to be watching the rains. But once it subsides we will begin the major repairs, as we have had discussions with our engineers on the number of roadways that need our attention," Williams said.
Additionally, he said that the city engineer has been given the go-ahead to create a list to denote the priority in which repairs are to be undertaken.
Williams told The Gleaner that engineers were also given the charge to coordinate with the NWA and the National Water Commission (NWC) to be clear on which agency is doing fixes to what roads.
"We at the municipality will take on the roads that are in a critical state of disrepair and which are within our jurisdiction; we will be getting a handle on the cost associated with those repairs. Some are more serious than others, as you would imagine, given the volume of traffic, but we will get around to all of them before long," Williams said.
"The fact is, our engineers are putting together a list for immediate repairs. I am aware also that the NWA and the NWC are also getting their respective listings together, and while I cannot say what the exact cost will be, I'm sure it's going to be in the millions," noted Williams.
He said the major road leading through Bull Bay in East Rural St Andrew, among others, is up for immediate attention once the daily rainfall ceases.
"That is a really bad section that is in need of very urgent attention," he stated.
Bushing work still important
Kingston's Mayor Delroy Williams has said that the bushing of verges has become as important as road repairs, as the beautification of the city is a critical undertaking of the municipality.
"As you would know, we cannot be cutting while it's raining," he said, "but once there is a window, it's what we have been doing. For example, coming from the Harbour View end of the city, you would have seen bushing work taking place."
Work repairs to be done by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation is separate from the $1.7-billion project by NWA to rehabilitate roadways across the island, which include some 21 roadways in seven parishes that are to be given attention under the second phase of the local component of the Major Infrastructure Development Programme.