The National Works Agency (NWA) is continuing its efforts to reopen blocked roads in the parishes of St. Catherine and St. Mary and is advising motorists to exercise extreme caution in using some corridors.
Earlier today, the NWA had reports of nine roadways being impassable in the two parishes. These include four parochial roads.
Manager of Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw says that work teams have so far reopened three of the affected main roads and that clearing efforts continue on others.
The roadways that have been reopened are the corridors from Claremont to Orange Hill and Rio Nuevo to Lambkin Hill in St. Mary, as well as the stretch from Williamsfield to Gobay in St. Catherine.
Mr. Shaw is advising motorists using the roadway from Williamsfield to Gobay to be extremely careful, as the corridor, which is narrow has been damaged in sections.
He is also advising drivers of heavy duty vehicles not to use the roadway from Richmond to Rose Hill in St. Mary, a section of which has broken away. Operators of small vehicles are being advised to use this roadway with extreme caution.
In the meantime, Mr. Shaw says efforts are being made to reopen the roadway from Natural Bridge to Troja in St. Catherine, before the end of today. Massive landslides have blocked the corridor. Three parochial roads are also impassable in the Troja area.
Mr. Shaw says that the NWA is working to have the parochial roads from Harewood to John Crow Spring, Troja to Retirement and Jambos to Pond reopened, as soon as the massive landslides are removed from the main road.
In St. Mary, the Alleppo Heights parochial road has been closed, as a section has collapsed. Mr. Shaw says work crews are expected to start the process to reopening the main road from Montreal to Top Derry tomorrow. The roadway has been rendered impassable, after a section collapsed amidst the heavy rains on Monday.
Mr. Shaw says the NWA is now trying to source the appropriate material to be used to assist in creating a temporary access for affected residents.
