Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Roads in Jamaica

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The road network in Jamaica consists of almost 21,000 kilometres of roads, of which over 15,000 kilometres is paved. The numbering scheme used covers freeways, primary (or A) roads, secondary (or B) roads, parochial roads and unclassified roads.

Contents

Motorways

Starting in the late 1990s the Jamaican Government (in cooperation with private investors) embarked on the Highway 2000 project to create a system of motorways, the first such access-controlled roads of their kind on the island. The project seeks ultimately to link the two main cities (Kingston and Montego Bay) and the north coast. It is being undertaken as a series of phases:

  • Phase 1a was the 33 kilometre Kingston-Bushy Park Highway (in actuality, from the Mandela Highway at Caymanas Park to Sandy Bay) which was completed in 2003, and the upgrade of the Portmore Causeway, completed June 2006.
  • Phase 1B Sandy Bay to Four Paths which was completed on 15 August 2012 and opened as the T1 Toll Road. There is an exit for traffic to/from the A1 Spanish Town Bypass between 9.7km and 11.2km from the eastern end of the T1, then to Old Harbour at 26.5km, to Freetown at 30.9km, to Sandy Bay at 42.3km, and concludes at a junction with the A2 at 45km, about 400m east of the junction with Glenmuir Rd providing access to May Pen. Work on the section from Four Paths to Williamsfield has yet to start. This phase will be a total of 37.7 kilometres when completed.
  • Phase 2a Caymanas Park-Ocho Rios. The section from Linstead By-Pass to Moneague opened as the T3 on 5 August 2014, 19.1 km. The link to the A1 Moneague to Mount Diablo Road at 16.5km from Linstead remains closed at this time. This exit allows northbound traffic to exit to the A1 and southbound traffic to join the T3.
  • Phase 2b Mandeville-Montego Bay.

    • On 2009-09-15 Jamaica's prime minister, Bruce Golding, announced to Parliament that Highway 2000 was to be renamed in honour of Usain Bolt. Those intentions were sidelined following a news paper article claiming Bolt had rejected the proposal.

    Northern Coastal Highway

    1998, the Government of Jamaica and the European Commission signed the financing agreement for the third segment of the Northern Coastal Highway Improvement Project in the amount of EURO80 million. The Project involves the reconstruction and re-habilitation of approximately 96km of road between Ocho Rios, St. Ann and Port Antonio, Portland. Total cost of the project is EURO 105.0 million with the GOJ contributing EURO 25 million for land acquisition and re-settlement as well as the construction of three bridges along the segment.

    The entire project consists of approximately 287km of roadway and is divided into three segments. · Segment 1 – Negril to Montego Bay (approx. 71km) · Segment 2 – Montego Bay to Ocho Rios (approx. 97km) · Segment 3 – Ocho Rios to Fair Prospect (approx. 119km)

    Southern Coastal Highway

    Approval has been given by Cabinet for the execution of a contract between the government and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. for the design, improvement and construction of Sections 1A and 1B of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project. This will involve work from Harbour View to Morant Bay as part of the overall Segment from Harbour View to Port Antonio.

    The existing main road along this southern coastal section of the island has been in generally poor condition. The alignment, surface condition, drainage are in need of major improvement.

    The Harbour View to Morant Bay section covers some 43km, with Morant Bay to Port Antonio approximately 65km. The work on the Harbour View to Morant Bay leg is estimated to cost approximately US385 million dollars.

    Among the improvement works will be a re alignment of the White Horses Bypass to the south of the town along the sea coast rather than to the north and modification of the Morant Bay Bypass at the western and eastern ends.

    A section of the highway will also be constructed to accommodate 4 lanes and major structures are to be built including 16 bridges, 1 flyover, 1 subway, along with new pipe and box culverts.

    Financing for the project is through the China Exim Bank. It is being accommodated in the 5 year Public Sector Investment Programmes covering the period 2016 to 2021.

    Parochial Roads

    Parochial roads are a local responsibility, being maintained by parish councils. They are too numerous to list individually.

    Unclassified Roads

    Unclassified roads are a local responsibility, being maintained by parish councils. They are too numerous to list individually

    References

    Roads in Jamaica Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA