The National Works Agency has reopened the majority of main roads that were blocked or reduced to single lane usage following the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav on August 28. Work is still in progress to clear roadways that remain closed.
Senior Communications Officer at the National Works Agency, Colin Morrison says, all main roads in St. Catherine are now open; however 24 Parish Council roads which are blocked by landslides, remain closed.
The Bloxborough to Bito, Lime Tree to Tower Hill, Westphalia, Flamstead and Mamee River Parish Council roads in St. Andrew are also blocked. These roads are expected to be cleared by Friday September 12.
Mr. Morrison says that 7 main roads in St Thomas remain impassable. This was caused by major land slippages, extensive scouring of the roadways and washed down silt deposits.
The Buff Bay Valley main road in western Portland is impassable at Cascade where a major breakaway occurred. In St. Mary three main roads are still blocked. These are Border to Cuffy Gully where a breakaway occurred; Chovey to Claremont where the Westmoreland Bridge was washed away and the Bernard road in the vicinity of the St. Mary/St. Catherine border, where another breakaway occurred.
In Clarendon the Nine Turn to Riches main road is still impassable, while seven others have been reopened to single lane usage. These include the Crooked River to Pennants Douce, Pedro River to St. Johns, Colonel Ridge to Kellits and Spalding’s to Cave Valley main roads.
Mr. Morrison reports that recent rains associated with Hurricane Ike have also resulted in landslips along several main roads. In St. Andrew, the Papine to Bull Bay main road is now blocked and in Trelawny the Stettin to Highgate Hall, Wire Fence to Warsop, Wait-a-bit to Hector’s River and Ulster Spring to Albert Town main roads have been reduced to single lane usage.
