The 2010 Atlantic Hurricane season was uneventful until the last week of September. The band of Thunder showers associated with the system of Tropical Storm Nicole, packing winds of over 75 Miles Per Hour, unleashed her fury on the island, damaging roadways and destroying bridges. Rivers overflowed their banks, flooding roadways, resulting in the blockage of drains and culverts islandwide.
For the period September 27-30, over 250 reports of affected roadways across the island have been received. Some were severed, others badly scoured while some were blocked or reduced to single lane usage.
Bridges fared no better. Six were affected, one of which [located at Dover Castle in St. Catherine] was completely washed out.
Through the efforts of the National Works Agency, of the 250 affected roadways, some sixty nine (69) remain blocked, up to Thursday. Technical Officers along with contractors continue their efforts to have full access restored to affected roadways.
Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Lester ‘Mike’ Henry in a Media Release that addressed the washed-out Harbour View Ford said, "the immediate problem in the area was damage to the fording from flood waters associated with Tropical Storm Nicole, which scoured the area last night [29.9.10]. He said the central base of the fording, though somewhat affected, remained largely intact, hence, “once the rainfall ceases and the water recedes, within about a day we can have the fording back in operation and traffic restored along the corridor - weather permitting, that is."
The minister also asked, "for public understanding of the challenges to the public infrastructure from intense weather systems", and urged "public co-operation in the bid to restore the fording to its intended use within the shortest possible time after the weather improves".
The Minister indicated that repairs to many of the damaged infrastructure are to be fast-tracked under the recently introduced Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme.
