The Government is moving to implement a $40 billion road improvement project to modernize over two thousand (2,000) roads islandwide, under the “Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme”.

Minister with responsibility for the Works Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Clifford E. Warmington, made the announcement during his Sectoral Presentation in Parliament today (May 31, 2023).

Minister Warmington described SPARK as a “major game changer” in the push to improve the condition of roads across the country.

“This Administration considers the intervention as an emergency, within the context of road-related injuries and fatalities, as well as the deteriorating state of the public thoroughfare, resulting from decades of underinvestment.  The vision is to create a transport network that is safe, efficient, and reliable to meet Jamaica’s economic and social needs”, the Minister stated.

The key objectives of the programme include improving the targeted road surfaces; improving intersections along targeted urban corridors; installing localized drainage; improving road safety through the construction of retaining walls and installation of guard rails and installing pedestrian facilities at selected locations.

“The expected outcomes to be derived from the initiative include improved road safety; better-localized drainage; reduction in travel time; reduction in vehicle operating costs (VOC) and reduction in Motor Vehicle carbon emissions”, the Minister noted.

He explained that six criteria would determine which roads would receive attention under the programme. They include “traffic volume; the condition of the road; safety factors such as reducing accidents or increasing emergency response times; cost; ease of implementation and social impacts such as increased access to services or decreased social cohesion”.

Minister Warmington said it is expected that the programme will provide the SPARK that will see economic activities returning to some areas and employment numbers trending upward.