GOVERNMENT WINS SECOND TOLL ROAD CASE

In the picture: Minister Pickersgill, (2nd from left) addressing the press conference. With him are Minister of State, Dr. Fenton Ferguson (left), Permanent Secretary, Dr. Alwin Hales (2nd from right) and Mrs. Elsa-May Binns, Senior Director, Police Planning and Evaluation.

The Constitutional Court on Monday, September 26, 2005 handed down judgement in favour of the Government through the Ministry of Transport and Works in the case concerning the building of a new tolled causeway linking Portmore with Kingston. The case which was brought by residents of Portmore, against the government, was spearheaded by JLP Councillors Andrew Wheatley, Natalie Campbell-Rodriquez and Keith Blake on the grounds that their prescriptive right to the bridge was being breached.

Speaking at a press conference following the judgement, Minister Robert Pickersgill said that despite the judgement, the Ministry and NROCC remain eager to work with the Portmore community in order that all their concerns on Highway 2000 are sufficiently addressed.

The Minister used the opportunity to thank the Solicitor General, Mr. Michael Hylton, Mr. Patrick Foster, Dr. Wayne Reid from NROCC, Mr. Trevor Jackson of Trans Jamaican Highway Ltd along with the staff of the National Works Agency who provided information critical to the government’s defence.

Minister Pickersgill also gave an update on the Portmore leg of Highway 2000:

Dyke Road

· 4km of the existing Dyke Road were rehabilitated from Passage Fort to Portmore Interchange and open to traffic in June, 2005.

Hunt’s Bay Bridge:

· Piling was completed in July, 2005 (28 piles – 16 of which are offshore)
· The 2 abutments and 2 piers are completed and the other 2 piers are in progress.
· Launching of the first span of the Deck done in September, 2005 and complete launching scheduled for end of 2005.

Interchanges:

· The main traffic diversion at Marcus Garvey Drive to allow the construction of the Interchange was opened to traffic in July, 2005 and work started on the Interchange.
· The Box Culvert structures at Fort Augusta and Dawkins Drive Interchanges are complete and the construction of the ramps is in progress.

Toll Plaza and Toll Building

· The works started in the Toll Building in June, 2005 and in August, 2005 for the Toll Plaza.
· Installation of Tolling equipment is scheduled to start early next year.

Soil Improvement:

· The concrete modular columns (CMC’s) and the vertical drains were completed in July, 2005.
· Preloading process is in progress for all areas and removal of surcharge started in June, 2005 for the areas that reached the design targets.

Traffic Diversions

In order to achieve the completion in June, 2006, the existing causeway traffic will be diverted in 3 main phases temporarily on the new constructed lanes, to allow completion of the existing 2 lanes. The existing traffic will be maintained at all times during the construction of the Highway.

Traffic diversions are as follows:

· From Hunt’s Bay Bridge to the Toll Plaza area in November, 2005. This will include the re-location of the fisher folk undertaken by NROCC.
· From the area of the Toll Plaza to Fort Augusta by January, 2006.
· From Fort Augusta to Dawkins Drive by March, 2006.

The delivery of this phase is on target for June, 2006.

The Minister noted that Highway 2000 and in particular the Portmore leg will redound to the benefit of all concerned in the Portmore environs. He said, ‘Instead of spending three hours on the road to get to work in downtown Kingston, you will be able to get there in 30 minutes, or less at a reasonable and affordable cost.’

He invited the residents of Portmore, particularly the motorists, to wok with the government in ensuring that the project proceeded unimpeded.