Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Everald Warmington today met with a high-level team from China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). CHEC is the contractor on the multibillion-dollar road improvement works now underway in eastern Jamaica. The meeting came against the background of yesterday’s traffic delays experienced along the Bull Bay main road in St. Andrew.
Motorists travelling between Harbour View, St. Andrew and Yallahs, St. Thomas experienced delays after a pipeline ruptured beneath the embankment on which the road was built. The leaking water line caused the section of road to be badly eroded, reducing the corridor to single lane.
Minister Warmington, who was joined at the meeting by senior officers of the National Works Agency (NWA) including Chief Executive Officer E.G. Hunter, expressed his displeasure with the impact the works had on the commuting public.
Echoing the instructions of Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, Minister Warmington told the contractors to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to minimize the impact of the works on the road users.
Minister Warmington also gave a commitment to ensure that deliverables, including the removal of some Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) infrastructure do not go beyond the end of this month. Any delays by the power company will have a negative impact on the August timeline for the practical completion of the work from Harbour View to Yallahs.
NWA’s CEO EG Hunter who has been instructed to take direct supervision for the execution of the works, also advised the contractor to review any arrangements that now see critical aspects of the works lagging. The review is expected to include the work of local sub-contractors.
The Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Programme is being managed for the government by Stanley Jamaica Consultants Limited.
