Gov't considering use of concrete to resurface more roads

By Clinton McGregor    

 

Amid growing calls for drastic improvement in the country's road network, Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the government is considering using concrete to resurface and rehabilitate roads across the island.

 

Speaking Thursday at the handing over of a section of Bay Farm Road in his West Central St. Andrew constituency, under the pilot project, Mr. Holness said the government is hoping the use of concrete will become a common feature in road rehabilitation.

 

"So far, when we are doing interventions for roadways, we are using asphalt in both these low use areas and in the high use areas. So in one sense, we could start the introduction of the concrete solution in the low use areas that don't require, for example, the thickness of the concrete, the steel reinforcements that have to go in, the control of water and the necessary application of friction to the surface, which all tend to increase cost. And of course, the PSI of the concrete, meaning the strength and the load bearing capability of the concrete that you have to deploy on our roads," he suggested. 

 

Mr. Holness added that the use of concrete will help solve the longstanding issue of damage to community and parochial roads, especially during the rainy season.

 

"I think that in the years to come, we are going to see a greater deployment of concrete, particularly in communities, in community roads, maybe parish council roads, in situations like this. So I want to use this opportunity to say to the nation that as we come to grips with our road problem, our aged infrastructure problem, that it is not going to be only the application of asphalt, but we will be using other solutions as well to treat the problem," he announced.