Ground was broken on Friday, April 8, 2011 for the
construction of Segment 1B1 of Highway 2000 which covers the area from Sandy Bay
to just beyond May Pen, setting the stage for it to gradually extended to Four
Paths and on to Williamsfield in Manchester.
Speaking at the launch, Prime Minister Bruce Golding urged
local investors to take advantage of opportunities on the south coast corridor
as government continues to support the expansion of the Toll Road, Highway 2000.
Noting that the government was pursuing a low interest rate policy, Mr. Golding
said local venture capital must be put to work.
“If we are to achieve the goals set out in Vision 2030,
whatever it is that has been imprisoning local investment and intimidating local
investment, well those will have to be removed,” the PM said.
Continuing, Mr. Golding highlighted initiatives that were
supporting commercial activities such as the move away from oil dependence to
cheaper liquid natural gas; the downward trend in the incidence of violent
crime; and the successful reduction in government’s Highway 2000 debt repayment
interest rate.
And speaking at the same ceremony, Transport and Works
Minister said that he was ‘thrilled for Clarendon to be again benefitting from a
major development.”
He said that the Highway 2000 would ultimately complement other
developments like Vernamfield and other socially engineered initiatives such as
the Herb McKenley Stadium that was being constructed in May Pen.
“Over time, the parish and the wider south central area will
benefit significantly from the expansion of the highway network. From vastly
improved mobility to improved connectivity between population and economic centres, the prospects are indeed
very appealing,” Minister Henry explained.
The Minister said that the pending highway expansion will
facilitate the intended connection between the highway and the Vernamfield
Development, making way for the smooth and seamless integration of the various
modes of transportation, that is via road, rail, sea and air.
The new Segment 1B1 is expected to be opened by September
2012.