BILLION DOLLAR CONTRACTS SIGNED FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE

PM Simpson-Miller addresses the Press Conference; others from left to right are: Mrs. Sharon Hay-Webster, St. Catherine MP; Dr. Fenton Ferguson, State Minister;
Minister Robert Pickersgill; Hon. Richard Azan, State Minister; Dr. Alwin Hales, Permanent Secretary and Mr. Milton Hodelin, CEO, NWA.

Five contracts amounting to J$1.2B were signed for road maintenance in five parishes at Jamaica House on Wednesday, October 25, 2006. The signing signals the commencement of an enhanced routine maintenance programme covering 1,800kilometres of the island’s main road network. The programme will be carried out under the National Road Service Improvement Project (NARSIP) and will be implemented over a three year period.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Portia Simpson –Miller noted that this phase of the programme is the pilot which will be limited to five parishes and will address approximately one third of the main road network. The five parishes being targeted are: Portland, St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Manchester and Westmoreland. The programme of works is to be implemented by the National Works Agency (NWA) over a three year period. 54% or US$9.9M is being funded by the Inter-American Development bank (IDB) and the remaining 46% or US$8.4M (Government counterpart) will come from the Road Maintenance Fund (RMF).

Before signing the contracts, the Prime Minister explained that during the past four years, hurricanes had dealt a severe blow to the main road network and structures islandwide. Continuing she said, “I am also mindful of the fact that the Government and my parliamentary colleagues have increasingly been facing difficult times from demanding constituents, particularly as it relates to the condition of the main roads.” “ As Prime Minister, I consider it imperative that the continual deterioration of the main road network be arrested…consequently, I have instructed the Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works and the NWA to accord the highest priority to maintaining the existing infrastructure,” she added.

Also speaking at the signing ceremony was Hon. Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Housing, Transport, Water and Works. He outlined the details of the contracts that were signed. Details outlined included:
Build Rite Construction Co $129,288,120.00 Manchester 1
Build Rite Construction Co. $124,960,120.00 Manchester 2
Alcar Construction & Haulage $99,236,495.00 Portland 1
Alcar Construction & Haulage Co. $139,083,606.40 Portland 2
Alcar Construction & Haulage Co. $130,697,110.00 St. Catherine 1
Build Rite Construction Co. $103,886,200.00 St. Catherine 2
Ian Johnson Eqpmt. & Constr. Co. $80,850,120.00 St. Thomas 1
Ian Johnson Eqpmt. & Constr. Co $ 73,133845.00 St. Thomas 2
D.R Foote Constr. Co. $49,581,822.50 Westmoreland 1
D.R Foote Constr. Co. $73,654,510.00 Westmoreland 2

The contracts will provide for the following:
• All drains will be cleaned for the life of the contract
• All vegetation growth will be kept between 50 and 400 mm height as required for the life of the contract
• All damaged traffic signs will be replaced within the first year and in subsequent years as required
• All potholes that exceed 150mm in diameter but are less than 5m and greater than 50mm in depth are to be repaired immediately by the contractor (All road sections must be free of potholes during the life of the contract)
• All road repairs carried out under the contract is guaranteed by the contractor for the duration of the contract
• The removal of dead animals, garbage and other debris creating traffic hazard will be as follows:

(a) Class A Roads – within 2 hours
(b) Class B Roads – within 24 hours
(c) Class C Roads – within 2 days

Minister Pickersgill highlighted the fact that the implementation of the project will have no negative impact on the environment as per specifications and clauses included in the contract document. This, he noted was in keeping with recent thinking and a recognition that in matters concerning the environment, such imperatives are neglected at the nation’s peril.

In addressing the fate of the other parishes with respect to road maintenance Mrs. Simpson-Miller said that they would be targeted through a grant of EU$10M that will be given to the Government by the EU. A third of these funds will go to the Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works and will be used to finance works in St. Mary and roads in St. Andrew. The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is awaiting a decision from the EU and once approval is received, these works will proceed in a similar manner to those in the other seven parishes. The other five parishes will continue to get attention from the Road Maintenance Fund for their maintenance activities.

Work in the five parishes of the pilot project is expected to begin in November.