Gov't to spend $25b under SPARK Main Roads programme beginning this month

 

 

Amid growing concerns about the state of the island's roads, the Works Ministry says work is set to commence this month under the main roads component of the SPARK Programme.

 

The Government has earmarked $25 billion to rehabilitate 37 priority roads under the main roads component of the programme.

 

SPARK is a $45-billion infrastructure programme to modernise more than 600 roads across the island and represents a major government intervention to address decades of underinvestment in the public road network.

 

"We have paved, fully paved 110 SPARK roads and a further 225 are now in the process of being paved. We have done 10 work orders, which is 403 roads. So at the end of it, we'll have 403 roads which includes 37 main roads. For the local and community roads, that's so far spent a total of $11.22 billion, and this is from March last year up to today. We have announced 37 main roads, or sections of main roads across 10 to 11 parishes. You're going to see $14 billion here but it will increase because in this calculation it doesn't include Dunrobin and Sir Florizel [Glasspole Highway]," said Works Minister Robert Morgan, who provided an update during Wednesday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

 

He added that the government intends to carry out repairs and construction of major thoroughfares in the coming months. 

 

"Additionally, I wanted to highlight the proposed rollout and the budget of these main roads. Between November and now we are going to be starting eight of the main roads, and between January and March - 11; April to May - 18 - for a total of 37. 

 

"So there is an additional $11 billion to the [$14 billion]... And that is Harbour View to Windward Road/Mountain View, which is $900 million, and then Washington Boulevard, Six Miles to Molynes Road including an overpass at Molynes Road, which is $4 billion. The Dunrobin Avenue extension from Constant Spring to East King's House Road, including an overpass, is $6.8 billion for a total of $11.7 billion," the minister outlined.

 

Mr. Morgan revealed that the eight road sections include the Montego Bay to Great River corridor in St. James, which is slated to commence in September. Howard Cooke Boulevard to Alice Eldemire Drive in St. James, Great River to Sandy Bay in Hanover, and Molynes Road (Half Way Tree to Washington Boulevard) in St. Andrew are scheduled to begin in October.