The heavy rains that affected the island for six days last week have left damage estimated at over 650 million dollars. During the period from October 6 to 12, over 100 road sections were affected by landslides, inundation and blocked drains.
Among the roadways that were affected are the Bog Walk Gorge, St. Catherine, which was impassable for two days and the Yallahs Ford in St. Thomas, which is yet to be reopened.
Other roadways that remain impassable are:
- Barbican to Pumpkin, Hanover, which was severely eroded by the Magotty River.
- Old Penn to Chichester, Hanover, which is inundated at Chigwell.
- Belvedere to Hall Head, St. Thomas, which has been eroded by the Morant/Johnson River.
- The Kintyre roadway, where the Hope River changed its course, significantly damaging the western approach road.
Teams from the National Works Agency were able to reopen over 95% of the affected roadways within 24 hours. These include the Gordon Townroad in St. Andrew, the roadway from Riley to Bushmont in Hanover and the section of the North-coast Highway, between Montego Bay, St. James and Hopewell, Hanover.
