Three Miles bypass to be completed in two weeks

The new US$1-million bypass for Three Miles in St Andrew that is being constructed to help ease traffic congestion in the Corporate Area should be completed within the next two weeks.

The two-lane 1.5-kilometre roadway is part of the Government's overall road-development and traffic-management programme and will link Chesterfield Drive, off Spanish Town Road, to Marcus Garvey Drive.

Senior communications and customer services officer at the National Works Agency (NWA), Ramona Lawson, said that the project is about 68 per cent complete.

"Based on where we are now, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, such as rain, for example, we should be delivering that in another two weeks," she said.

Lawson noted that several aspects of the project, including the drainage-improvement works, culvert installation, and the construction of two Bailey bridges, have been completed.

"We are just about complete with the sub-base and base works and the curb and sidewalk installation along Chesterfield Drive itself. We are about 90 per cent complete with those. We are scheduled to begin pavement works in the upcoming week, and an additional two weeks for completion from today - that's what our target is," she said.

Lawson said that heavy rains have delayed work on the project, which was originally scheduled to be delivered a month after the start date of September 17.

"It was a time when we had significant rainfall in that area, and so, this project was being implemented in the height of one of our rainiest periods, and that affected works there," she pointed out.

The road is being built alongside the existing rail line that runs between the Caymanas area and Marcus Garvey Drive. It will create a dedicated access route to Marcus Garvey Drive for traffic coming from the Mandela Highway.

The US$1-million project is being funded under the Major Infrastructure Development Programme and is being built by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited.

The Three Miles area has been closed to vehicular traffic to facilitate continued road-improvement works.