The National Works Agency (NWA) is making progress clearing blocked roads across the island. The roads have been impacted by Hurricane Melissa, through landslides, fallen trees flooding and badly scoured surfaces.
Manager, Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw says that up to this afternoon some 195 corridors island wide were reported as being impassable due to the hurricane.
Mr. Shaw says that of the affected roads, the NWA has so far either reopened to single lane or completely cleared 93 corridors. Among the critical corridors that have been re-opened are the roads leading from Kingston to Black River, St. Elizabeth. That from Black River to Savanna la mar, Westmoreland and Savanna la mar to Montego Bay, St. James.
Mr. Shaw says that the NWA has engaged multiple teams to include operators of heavy equipment and chain saw operators in its push to have all critical roads reopened. The NWA is working to have all major roads re-opened to at least single lane by early next week.
Mr. Shaw says that some 102 corridors are still being impacted, however work has been intensified to have these reopened. Some roads are still being impacted by flooding and will take some time for storm waters to recede. Others have suffered major damage and will require major civil works, before being reopened.
He says that the NWA is working closely with the Jamaica Public Services Company Limited as there a several roads that are being impacted by downed poles and power lines. The majority of these are in the central and western parishes that were hardest hit by the hurricane.
