The National Works Agency (NWA) has dispatched work teams across the eastern parishes of Portland, St. Mary and St. Ann to clear roadways blocked by silt, debris, fallen trees and boulders. These activities are being hampered by heavy rains which are still affecting these areas/regions.
In St. Mary, equipment and personnel have been deployed to Airy Hill, Daisy Mountain and Port Maria to clear landslips, silt, debris and boulders. In Annotto Bay a team is now working on blocked drains at the oufall point to increase flow. In Oracabessa a team is carrying out remedial cleaning along affected roadways.
The Junction Road is now clear. A driving surface has been established along the Rosend main road, which was extensively scoured. Flood waters along the Mason Hall main road has receded and it is now open to traffic, while the Derry main road which is extensively scoured, is still reduced to single lane access. The NWA is advising operators of small units to avoid this roadway. The landslip which blocked a section of the Huddersfield main road leading from little Bay to Oracabessa is now clear.
In St. Ann, the section of the Fern Gully main road that was blocked by a fallen tree is now clear. The Ocho Rios main street in the vicinity of Sandals and a blocked drain by the Bahia Principe Hotel are now clear. Emergency works have been carried out at a breakaway along the Green Park to St. Ann’s Bay road section. The blockage has been cleared and single lane access established. The St. Ann’s Bay town road and the Davis Town to Greenwich Park main road which were blocked by silt and debris are now clear.
Portland continues to experience rainfall and minor landslips. NWA Officers are now in the field assessing the situation. In St. Catherine a section of the Bog Walk Gorge main road, exiting the Gorge and heading towards Bog Walk, in the vicinity of the Sligoville turn-off, has been heavily scoured. Temporary restoration work is being done. Traffic is restricted to single lane and motorists should approach this area with caution and obey the instructions of flag persons.
