At least 34 roads affected during Tropical Storm Rafael

By Halshane Burke    

 

Works Minister Robert Morgan says at least 34 roads were affected during the passage of Tropical Storm Rafael.

 

Minister Morgan says roads in St. Ann, St. Thomas, St. Mary, St. Andrew and St. Catherine were among those most affected.

 

In several areas residents were marooned in their communities due to flooding.

 

Minister Morgan says the damage did not rise to the level experienced during Hurricane Beryl. 

 

"In the general appraisal, we had about 15 roads blocked, totally, 10 flooded. Minor road damage was about two. We had about seven single lane situations where there was only single lane access. And major, we had about two totally impassable roads," he said at Wednesday's post-Cabinet media briefing. 

 

He said the National Works Agency is undertaking an assessment of areas impacted by landslides. 

 

"The longer term problem is that there are some areas, for example, in east rural where we have had major landslides, which has essentially destroyed roads. We saw one on television, where the entire community has been cut off. That is going to take some time to repair. There are also some other minor slippages that have taken place. The National Works Agency is currently in the field doing their assessment to see what the damage is."

 

Meanwhile, Minister Morgan said the passage of Tropical Storm Rafael has not derailed the SPARK programme.

 

SPARK is a $45 billion undertaking to improve the nation's road network.

 

Minister Morgan said there are several components of the programme, apart from the actual patching of roads, that have already started.  

 

"SPARK is ongoing. I know a lot of persons think SPARK has not started, but the asphalt is actually one phase of SPARK. There is the procurement aspect. There is the planning aspect that started as far back from an action perspective in May, but from a policy perspective the year before. So we have gotten the approval of the Public Investment Administration Branch, PIAB, and we are currently now at the Public Procurement Commission for their approval, after which it will be going to the Infrastructure Committee and then to Cabinet," he noted. 

 

The minister expects these processes to be completed by the end of November, and for the first road repair under the programme to begin before the end of the year.