‘Give us the money, let us fix it’

WESTERN BUREAU:

Lucea Mayor Sheridan Samuels, chairman of the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC), says the corporation stands ready to provide the National Works Agency (NWA) with a solution to fix the perennial bad-road situation in Lucea.

Samuels, who was addressing Thursday’s monthly meeting of the HMC, said: “The NWA needs to come and talk with us. If we at the HMC had the monetary resources, we would get the problem solved a long time ago. Give us the money and let us do the job,” said Samuels.

The mayor believes that, given Hanover’s importance to the local tourism sector, fixing the problematic roadway in Lucea would be an ideal project for the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), as several tourists on their journey between Montego Bay and Negril have been seriously inconvenienced by the delays that occur along that roadway.

“Do not let the tourists say that they are not coming back to Jamaica because of that piece of roadway. Give us the money and let us fix it,” urged Samuels.

“What we have been seeing happening out by the seawall, in the Seaview Drive area where we are having the challenges in terms of road conditions and traffic back-up ... we in the HMC have met with our chief engineering officer and discussed the situation. And what she has said and explained to us is really what we know should happen.”

Samuels said that, based on the conclusion drawn by the chief engineering officer, the seawall, which should offer protection to the roadway which runs alongside it, is being eroded by the sea, which has compromised the strength of the structure itself.

“It needs some breakers, some gabion basket, is what is being suggested, and we need to lift the roadway somewhat,” explained Samuels.

Reference was also made to a section of the roadway on main street in Lucea, in the vicinity of the G V service station, which has reportedly been repaired by the NWA on three occasions since 2024.

The road is however observed to have since fallen into a state of disrepair, causing frustration for pedestrians and motorists alike, who have had to be skilfully negotiating to avoid injuries and accidents.

Traversing the road network in the capital, Lucea has proved to be quite problematic for motorists, especially when it rains, as traffic congestion sometimes results in delays of up to two hours.

The councillors say that, despite constant complaints that the NWA’s method of repairs, which includes using an asphalt mixture, is an exercise in futility, that solution continues to be applied.

“The roadway there is below sea level, and, if you are constantly using asphaltic concrete, it is going to deteriorate. You need to use the concrete itself, just like what is used in the vicinity of the Flat Bridge (in St Catherine). All you have to do is tell the motorist to drive with caution,” Samuels explained.