Issue: Poor coordination of road projects

The Editor, Sir:

Having travelled many of the roads in Jamaica in the course of my geological investigations, I feel that some comment is needed on their current state. Many roads are of good quality, even though many have not been repaired in many a year, while others seem to have been ignored and have fallen into disrepair.

By far the biggest problem, as I see it, however, is with the laying of utilities, specifically water mains and sewers. Trenches are cut, pipes are laid, and the trenches are refilled with the same material that was dug out; and to cap this, we find a thin layer of Tar-Mac.

Within a few months, or even weeks if there is heavy rainfall, the trenches are opened up by the elements, and worse still, even the 'marl' underlay of the original road is attacked and the road deteriorates even more. We all have seen this; it leads to major decay of roads, potholes, and undoubtedly deaths due to the motorist's swerving away from potholes and ploughing into a pedestrian.

But now we see a new development: major routes are being dug up for the laying of sewers, or pipes, at the same time as alternative routes! Have you seen Bog Walk gorge or the alternative route through Barry; and Barbican Road and the alternative route along Mona Road? These new 'initiatives' are clearly not in Jamaica's public interest; they have caused major delays, raised people's blood pressure, and I am sure have, or will, lead to someone's death. It seems to me that there is a simple set of rules (laws?) that could be put in place:

1. Never do two projects at once that may interfere with the same set of traffic.

2. Ensure that trenches are properly back-filled (with new hard-core material) and properly resurfaced.

3. Develop a mechanism by which, when problems occur, they can be rectified (e.g., a bond by contractors, or whatever).

I question the National Water Commission, the National Works Agency, and even the Government of Jamaica, in regard to these issues. Who takes the blame? Who takes the lead? What needs to be done? For the sake of everyone who uses Jamaican roads, and particularly for those who will die on the roads because of these issues, we need something much much better than is currently on offer.

I am, etc.,

Prof SIMON MITCHELL

simon.mitchell@uwimona.edu.jm

Dept Geography and Geology

UWI