HIGHWAY 2000 TOLL ROAD OPENED

 

Prime Minister P.J Patterson unveils the plaque to signify the opening of the Spanish Town Toll Plaza.

Prime Minister P.J Patterson on Thursday, December 16, 2004 cut the ribbon signifying the opening of the new Highway 2000 Toll Road.

Speaking at opening the Prime Minister said ‘This 21 km segment that runs from Mandela Highway to Bushy Park has been completed on schedule and within projected costs, once again proving that in the words of National Hero, Marcus Garvey, “we can accomplish what we will.”’

Highway 2000 is one of the Millenium Projects which from its inception was seen as a catalyst for the development of the entire island. The mandate of the Project is to:

The PM noted that citizens using the 1st Segment of the Highway are enjoying the projected cost and time savings and that the usage on the Old Harbour Bypass Segment has exceeded initially targeted levels. He further noted that with the opening of the new segment, those who need to travel from Kingston to Sandy Bay can complete the journey in 24 minutes as against hours spent in peak traffic.

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson pays the first toll at the Spanish Town Toll Plaza

The newly completed Segment of the Highway is expected to relieve the problems of road congestion which plagued commuters from the northern, southern and western rural areas whose only way into Kingston has been through Spanish Town and the Spanish Town Bypass.

The Highway with a US$71M construction cost has provided employment for over 700 persons including Engineers, Grader Operators, Quarry Managers, Crane Operators, Earth Workers, during construction plus another 120 on completion for operation of the system.

For his part, Minister of Transport and Works, Robert Pickersgill said ‘ It seems like yesterday when the Prime Minister made the announcement in parliament on the eve of the millennium of this multi-million dollar project. In the last few months since the opening of the first segment f the highway at the Old Harbour Bypass, we have driven by and seen our landscape transformed…today, for the very first time we will see and experience the immense work that has gone into this project over the last 17 months.’

The newly opened Segment of the Highway is Phase 1 of the project and is a 21km stretch of roadway divided in a 2x2 carriageway. It connects Bushy Park in St. Catherine to the Mandela Highway in Kingston. This will from part of the 74 km long four lane highway between Kingston and Williamsfield in Manchester, essentially connecting the southern towns of Jamaica to city Kingston and vice versa.

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson cuts the ribbon signifying the opening of the new segment of Highway 2000

The new roadway is an excellent piece of work built to satisfy the highest international standards of road construction. The cost of the new segment was US$71M. The venture was led by the private sector with substantially most of its own money sourced without a Government guarantee.

Highway 2000 is expected to make a major contribution to the implementation of the Government’s comprehensive development plan which is grounded on the phased implementation of Highway 2000. Initially, the plan will be for St. Catherine and Clarendon two parishes which have experienced rapid population growth over the past decade. Highway 2000 will be the catalyst for the growth for industries and other activities along the corridor.

The PM highlighted the fact that he had given instructions for work to begin at once to prepare for project consideration and subsequently the design of that segment which will run from Bushy Park to Ocho Rios.