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Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness
Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has labelled the Port Antonio Bypass a game changer for the parish of Portland.
Dr. Holness said the current roadway through the parish contributes to congestion in the town and can no longer accommodate the level of development anticipated for Portland.
"It is vulnerable to flooding and coastal erosion and it cannot accommodate the scale of development we envision for this area. The Port Antonio Bypass will solve this. The new 18-kilometre corridor, divided into two phases, will divert through traffic from the fragile congested coastal town centre, cutting travel time, reducing transport costs and unlocking vast development potential inland. In so doing, it will unlock new commercial zones, stimulate land development and create room for expansion," he touted, adding that all this will be achieved while "maintaining Port Antonio as a quiet, coastal retreat, but with a thriving economic hub".
Construction of the Bypass will be undertaken in two phases. Phase one, from Norwich to Turtle Crawl Harbour, will be a 7-kilometre stretch of a four-lane roadway with safety enhancing median barriers, newly constructed bridges, upgraded drain infrastructure and designated bus shelters.
"The Government of Jamaica has committed approximately US$81 million for the construction of this project and another $521 million for land acquisition, with over 200 parcels to be acquired in phase one alone. The National Land Agency has already begun the acquisition process, ensuring that every affected landowner is treated with fairness and dignity," said the Prime Minister, who was speaking Thursday at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Port Antonio Bypass.
Phase two of the Port Antonio Bypass project will see construction of approximately 11 kilometres of roadway from Turtle Crawl Harbour in Boston Bay.