PM OPENS SEGMENT TWO OF NORTH COAST HIGHWAY

Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller cutting the ribbon to symbolically open Segment Two of the NCHIP.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller opened Segment Two of the North Coast Highway Improvement Project on Thursday, December 14, 2006.

Since 1990, the government of Jamaica has been developing the infrastructure along Jamaica’s North Coast to support increasing tourism and population growth. It is out of this initiative that the Northern Jamaica Development Project (NJDP) was born. One of the five sub-projects is the Northern Coastal Highway improvement Project which calls for the upgrading of the road corridor from Negril to Port Antonio.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Simpson-Miller said that she was very pleased to be associated with such an important and integral project to the development of Jamaica. She noted that the Segment being opened was originally 97km but was eventually reduced to 70km which covers the section from Greenside (Falmouth) to Ocho Rios. In the meantime, the Montego Bay to Greenside portion covering 27km has been re-named Segment 2A and is being funded by the Caribbean Development Bank. This Segment is scheduled to be completed in August, 2007.

Contractor for Segment 2 was Jose Cartellone Civiles and was funded jointly by GOJ and the Inter American Development Bank (IADB) at a cost of some US$146M.

Work on the Project encompassed various areas; these included:
• Construction of (a) the Martha Brae River Bridge (b) Rio Bueno River Bridge (c) Pear Tree River Bridge (d) Wakefield Interchange
• Re-construction and realignment of four Bypasses to the towns of Falmouth, Duncans, Rio Bueno and Coopers Pen
• Overlay of 11km of existing roadway
• Construction of 2 Underpasses to facilitate livestock movement on either sides of the roadway
• Construction of 2 vehicular Underpasses at Silver sands Road in Duncans and Calabar main road in Rio Bueno
• Construction of one golf cart and pedestrian Underpasses at Breezes, Runaway Bay
• Provision of over 50 Right Turn lanes at major intersections and entrances to enhance safety
• Provision of Traffic Lights at critical intersections to enhance safety

The construction of Segment 2 resulted in the employment of some 440 Jamaicans and 70 expatriates covering professionals, semi-professionals, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour. Indirectly, the Project provided spin-offs such as earnings by nationals through the rental of local hotels, guest houses and individual homes for accommodation of expatriates and local workmen. It also provided business for local restaurants and food stores.

Also speaking at the Opening Ceremony was Works Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill who outline some of the positive the Highway will have on travel. He noted the following:
• The improvement of the Highway has resulted in reduction of travel times of more than 40% between Ocho Rios, Falmouth and Montego Bay.
• Reduction in accident rate
• Less wear and tear on vehicles
• Development of an all weather roadway
• Safer roadways/reduction in accidents/reduction in vehicle operating costs.

He also highlighted the fact that the improvement of the Highway has directly induced the construction of several major hotels along the corridor and the economic improvement of persons within the adjoining parishes.

The Prime Minister for her part admonished motorists not to use the Highway as a racing track and that they should abide by the rules and regulations governing the road.