Mon | Dec 2, 2024

Access improvement works start soon in Free Town

TransJamaican Highway outlines community roadwork at town hall

Published:Thursday | June 13, 2024 | 12:10 AM
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Planned site of the Westbound Exit Ramp on the East-West Highway accessway upgrades.
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Planned site of the Westbound Exit Ramp on the East-West Highway accessway upgrades.
Planned site of the Westbound Entry Ramp on the East West Highway accessway upgrades.
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Planned site of the Westbound Entry Ramp on the East West Highway accessway upgrades.
TransJamaica Highway Limited also intends to improve the road surfaces on a section of Old Harbour Road.
Contributed
TransJamaica Highway Limited also intends to improve the road surfaces on a section of Old Harbour Road.
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Residents of Free Town and surrounding communities are expected to have a full interchange along Highway 2000 East-West in early 2025.

The improvement plans were detailed during a town hall meeting at the Free Town Primary School, by Ivan Anderson, managing director of TransJamaican Highway Limited (TJH).

Anderson explained that residents in Longville; Free Town; Aviary; New Harbour Phase 4; and Sandy Bay currently have no westbound access to the highway to go to May Pen. He also admitted that, for the residents who work in May Pen, there is no way to access these communities when travelling eastbound.

“It is in the continued assessment of the highway and after receiving many requests from the communities that we will be implementing these ramps,” Anderson said after acknowledging the lobbying from stakeholders, including William Shagoury, chair of the Toll Authority Board and former Custos Rotulorum of Clarendon, who was present at the meeting.

The roadwork for the two new access ramps to Highway 2000 East-West will start in June 2024 by China Harbour Engineering and Construction (CHEC).

No new tolls on ramps

Anderson detailed that the contractors will be constructing two ramps on the Old Harbour Road (A2) roadway – westbound entry parallel to the existing exit at HiPro Feeds Factory and the eastbound exit ramp will be constructed parallel to the existing eastbound entry ramp.

TJH said the works will include upgrading a section of A2, and the area of the highway at the interchange.

“There will be no tolls on the ramps,” Anderson explained to the nodding citizens gathered on the school’s quadrangle.

“The people travelling further eastbound would pay a toll at May Pen; however, there would be no tolls at this exit at Free Town. Similarly, there would be no tolls to get on the Highway going Westbound at Free Town; however, tolls would be payable at May Pen.”

He said further that road users entering eastbound to Old Harbour would pay no tolls either on entrance or on exit. Similarly, persons who enter travelling westbound at Old Harbour would pay no tolls on entry or exit at Free Town.

To facilitate the added usage of the highway in this area, the improvement works will also include increasing the number of lanes at the Vineyards Toll Plaza. The project is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2025.