PRIME MINISTER RE-OPENS MO-BAY ROADWAY

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson officially re-opened the Howard Cooke Boulevard in Montego Bay on Saturday, June 12, 2004.

The work which was undertaken by West Indies Home Contractors (WIHCON) and managed by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) was completed within budget and on time. Cost of the project was J$700M and involved the dualisation of Howard Cooke Boulevard from the intersection at Queen's Drive down to the Alice Eldemire Drive/Bogue Road intersection. The whole project is a part of the Government's infrastructure modernization programme that includes the Highway 2000 and the North Coast Highway.

In re-opening the road, the Prime Minister noted that Howard Cooke Boulevard is the gateway for visitors going into Montego Bay and that the upgrading project has opened up the city and provides an inviting entrance 'laying out the welcome mat, as it were, for all who come here, whether for business or pleasure.'

Continuing, the PM said, 'I have the pleasure of participating in yet another development project for the city of Montego Bay as we continue the far-reaching, consistent, carefully planned and well executed development of this important city. The aim of our overall development programme is to bring Montego Bay up to the standard of a first world metropolis, deserving of its position as one of the world's most famous tourism resort destinations and one which is home to a growing, productive citizenry.'

Apart from the obvious benefits of the newly re-furbished road, other spin-offs will occur. These include:

• Creation of opportunities for greater investment and expansion of the town and interior areas.
• Reduction in transportation time of goods and services thus making them more competitive.
• Better regulation of traffic and
• Better accommodation of the growing number of vehicles using the roadway

With the construction phase of the project out of the way, work will now be concentrated on an equally important aspect, that of the maintenance of the roadway. That responsibility will rest with the residents of the city.

The Prime Minister urged everyone to use the road in a cautious manner. He highlighted the fact that courtesy should be displayed by everyone on the road. Says he, ' Too many of us place too little value on the people's lives and are careless and inconsiderate. I know the police have a lot of work to do but I hope somehow they can find a way to patrol the road and use the full weight of the law on those determined to have to ignore the road code.'