NWA urges patience as it works to reopen the Gorge

Date Published: 
28 Oct 2020

The National Works Agency (NWA) has concentrated its efforts on clearing and cleaning the roadway through the Gorge in St. Catherine with a view to re-open later tonight. Activities there are now 90% complete.

 

National Works Agency’s (NWA) Communication and Customer Services Manager, Stephen Shaw, is asking Jamaicans to remain patient as NWA crews work to clear and clean roadways that have been affected by flooding, siltation and landslides over recent days.

 

Mr. Shaw says the Agency has been continuously engaged, sometimes up to late nights, attempting to safely reopen corridors to motorists and commuters. He explains that due to the high number of incidences in some parishes, critical areas have had to be prioritized.

 

Despite the challenges, the Agency has however managed to reopen the vast majority of 70-plus roadways that has so far been reported as affected. Equipment has been stationed at some locations which are experiencing recurrent landslips to ensure that reasonable access is maintained along main corridors.

 

Cleaning of the Border to Nolan Hill corridor in St. Andrew is ongoing. The NWA is pushing to clear the roadway sufficient enough for JUTC buses to use. Teams continue to work to clear boulders from the Rock River to Ginger Ridge roadway in Clarendon as well as the Alligator Pond to Milk River road in Manchester. Both corridors remain impassable this afternoon.

 

Flooding at Big Pond along the Old Harbour to Bartons roadway in St. Catherine has rendered the corridor inaccessible at the location.

 

The motoring public and commuters are being urged to proceed with caution on the roadways as some corridors are heavily-silted and continue to be impacted by falling boulders and landslides.

 

Persons are also being discouraged from attempting to cross flooded roadways and bridges.

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