Contract Agreement for the design and construction of the revised scope of works for the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP) was signed on June 28, 2016, between the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC) and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) in the amount of Three Hundred and Eighty-four Million United States Dollars (US$384,000,000.00).

The SCHIP is divided into Part A and Part B works as follows:

• The Part A works of SCHIP is a 28km 4-lane rural arterial divided long tolled highway from May Pen, Clarendon to Williamsfield, Manchester. The Implementing Agency is the National Road Operating and Constructing Company Limited (NROCC).
• Part B works is being implemented by the National Works Agency (NWA) in two (2) components as follows:
  • Part B (ii) – a 17.4km 4-lane roadway from Harbour View to Yallahs Bridge; and
  • Parts B (iii) and (iv) – rehabilitation and resurfacing of fifteen (15) construction packages totaling 123.65km of existing roadway from Yallahs Bridge to Port Antonio and Morant Bay to Cedar Valley.

Works on Parts A and B (ii) were substantially completed, resulting in the opening of the corridors on September 14, 2023 and February 6, 2024, respectively. Works are still ongoing on Part B (iii & iv). Overall, substantial completion for the SCHIP is anticipated by March 2025.

The Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project is 14.9 km in length, starting at Howard Cooke Boulevard, through Temple Gallery to Ironshore. In addition to the 14.9 km roadway, the following road works will be carried out in order to further improve the traffic flow within the area:

• Barnett Street/West Green Avenue – The 1.7 km roadway will be upgraded from two (2) to four (4) lanes to more effectively handle the traffic coming into and out of Montego Bay.
• Long Hill Bypass – The 10.5 km two (2) lane roadway will bypass the treacherous section of the existing Long Hill Road and connect the Montego Bay Perimeter Road to Montpelier. It will also improve access from Montego Bay to the South Coast of the island and compliment the work being done under the Ferris Cross to Mack Field Road Improvement Project.

The MBPRP is being implemented by the National Road Operating and Constructing Company Limited (NROCC). As at June 2024, works on the Montego Bay Perimeter Road was approximately 35% complete.

The Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Programme is an urban transportation improvement programme designed to support the GOJ’s short to medium-term economic growth goals and provide crucial infrastructure to foster future development or redevelopment. The CAPEX Programme comprises six (6) projects as follows:

• Widening of Grange Lane, St. Catherine
• Widening and Dualization of Braeton Road and Part of Hellshire Main Road, St. Catherine
• Widening of Arthur Wint Drive, St. Andrew
• Widening of East Kings House Road and Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston
• Widening of Sandy Gully Bridge along Washington Boulevard (Patrick City – Ken Hill Drive), Kingston
• Improvement of Access to Portmore via Mandela Highway onto Municipal Boulevard, St. Catherine

Cabinet approved the award of a contract to General Paving Company Limited in the amount of Nine Hundred and Twenty-five Million, Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty-two Jamaican Dollars (J$925,007,252.00) for the widening of Grange Lane. The project commenced in December 2023 and is approximately 20% complete.

The Public Investment Appraisal Process for the projects listed above are scheduled for completion during the first to third quarter of Financial Year 2024/2025. The Ministry has sought and is awaiting Cabinet’s approval for the inclusion of the Widening and Dualization of Braeton Road and Part of Hellshire Main Road Project in the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP).

The Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme is a monumental undertaking with a budget of J$40 billion, designed to address and rehabilitate Jamaica’s deteriorating road network.
The primary purpose of the SPARK Programme is to revitalize and strengthen the nation’s road infrastructure. With a focus on shared prosperity, the program aims to accelerate improvements in secondary, parochial, and community roads across Jamaica over a two-year period. By targeting both main and local roads, SPARK aspires to create a network that facilitates economic growth, community development, and enhanced overall accessibility.
The Forty Billion Jamaican Dollars (J$40,000,000,000.00) SPARK Programme is organized into two (2) categories of works as follows:

• Part A (NWA Roads Component) – Twenty Billion Jamaican Dollars (J$20,000,000,000.00) is earmarked for main roads to address substantial repairs and potential infrastructure replacements.
• Part B (Local Roads Component) – The remaining Twenty Billion Jamaican Dollars (J$20,000,000,000.00) is for the repair/rehabilitation of parochial and community roads. Of this Twenty Billion Jamaican Dollars (J$20,000,000,000.00) allocation, Ten Billion Jamaican Dollars (J$10,000,000,000.00) will be equally divided among the sixty-three (63) constituencies, ensuring a fair distribution of approximately One Hundred and Fifty Million Jamaican Dollars (J$150,000,000.00) for each constituency. The remaining Ten Billion Jamaican Dollars (J$10,000,000,000.00) will be allocated based on the length of roads in each constituency relative to the total, providing a nuanced and needs-based distribution.

To ensure the success of the SPARK Programme, a collaborative approach has been adopted. Community engagement is emphasized, with elected officials and community members actively participating in the identification and selection of projects. The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) plays a central role in facilitating the consultative process. MPs, supported by relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of Local Government and the National Works Agency, organize community consultations to collect recommendations on road repairs.