Cabinet has approved J$2 billion to undertake emergency road repairs, announced recently by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.
This was disclosed today, (Wednesday, December 11, 2024) by Minister with responsibility for Works Hon. Robert Morgan at the weekly Post-Cabinet Press briefing at Jamaica House.
“Cabinet approved that programme on Monday, and we expect contracts to be issued to the contractors before the end of the week, so we can start doing the work since we have seen some signs in some areas that the rains have abated to some extent”, he stated.
Minister Morgan said main roads will be prioritised under the emergency repair programme, adding that he had received numerous calls about roads like Grants Pen, August Town, the Hermitage Road, Papine to Gordon Town and Red Hills, as well as roads in St James, and Hanover, among others.
“The National Works Agency will be using this J$2 billion dollars as efficiently as possible to do quick work in repairing these roads, based on the national emergency”, he noted.
Minister Morgan further explained that the recent rains had not only resulted in more damage to the roads but had delayed the necessary repairs.
“So, the issue is not about finding resources to repair a large portion of the roads that have challenges. The issue was when we did try to repair some of these roads, the rains would have stopped us and we made the decision that we should not try to patch roads in rain, as we will lose the asphalt”.
Turning to the SPARK programme, Minister Morgan elaborated on the breakdown of the expenditure under the programme.
“It is J$20 billion in the first tranche of the J$45 billion allocation, (with) J$40 billion for roads and J$5 billion for water infrastructure. We’re focused on improving connectivity in communities ensuring safe and reliable travel for Jamaicans, which includes not digging up the roads after the roads are fixed to lay water pipes but putting in the pipes while the roads are being fixed. It includes the re-design of roads that have never been designed in the first place.  It includes a comprehensive drainage design for these roads to ensure that they last longer”, he noted.
The programme, he said, also includes a defects liability period where the main contractor is obligated without cost to the Government, to fix any flaw that comes up within a year after the road has been handed over.
The Minister stated that the repairing of roads is about people.