Several Clarendon roads still impassable following rains brought on by TS Ida

 

At least five roads in Clarendon remain impassable to vehicular traffic days after Tropical Storm Ida dumped heavy rains across Jamaica.

 

The National Works Agency (NWA) says the storm caused significant damage to roads in 12 parishes.

 

NWA Communication Manager Stephen Shaw said the affected the areas in Clarendon include Nine Turns, Mocho to Frankfield, Corn Hill to Thornbury, Croft's Hill, Mitchell Town road and others. 

 

The Mitchell Town road was closed after a culvert collapsed, rendering it dangerous for the motoring public. Mr. Shaw said the road would remain closed "until we are able to have that particular drainage feature replaced."  

 

The other roads are blocked by boulders and landslides.

 

There are alternative routes.

 

But Mr. Shaw said the NWA is worried about the forecast for more wet weather this weekend with communities still in recovery mode following Tropical Storms Grace and Ida. 

 

"We are concerned about saturation, that there is over saturation. We have a lot of drains that require some cleaning at this time, because with the flooding that we would have experienced, especially in the lower sections of Clarendon, some of those drains would become silted and of course we need to reopen them. But we have to be guided by the dictates of our ministry and the Ministry of Finance," he explained.