Gov't ends engagement of local contractors on south coast highway project

By Halshane Burke    

 

The government has opted to discontinue its engagement of local contractors on the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project in St. Thomas.

 

The National Works Agency (NWA) says given the challenges with local contractors, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) will complete tranches 5 and 6 which run from Prospect to Arcadia and Arcadia to Amity Hall.

 

NWA Communication Manager Stephen Shaw says the new arrangement should eliminate some of the issues faced on previous sections. 

 

"The pace at which we are now moving, we are really hoping to see the many aspects of this project completed before the end of this year. And so the Chinese are executing the works themselves. These packages are not being done through subcontracting, as the government has taken the decision to go this route, given the challenges that we have had with the other 10 packages under the tranches one and two of the SCHIP, where work is actually still ongoing on a couple of other projects," he declared. 

 

Mr. Shaw said the over 15 kilometre of roadway is being constructed at a cost of more than J$3 billion.