Tourism stakeholders want a timeline for the completion of the roadworks

JAMAICA Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Montego Bay Chapter members, who recently gathered at the Half Moon Hotel boardroom to hear a presentation from representatives of the National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC), were somewhat disappointed when they received There are no clear timelines for the completion of work on the Montego Bay Peripheral Road.

While they welcomed the update, they were eager to know when the long-awaited 9-mile MoBay bypass – or even parts of it – would be put into service. The bypass is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion faced by individuals, including visitors – especially between Montego Bay and Negril.

“While we understand and see the magnitude of the work, we are still concerned about the timelines,” chapter president Nadine Spence told the newspaper. Jamaican observer.

“I still have to send them an email to say they really need to come back as soon as possible to give us some timelines,” she added.

In addition to the MoBay Bypass, the Perimeter Roads Project also includes the Long Hill Bypass, the renovation of Barnett Street/West Green Avenue Road and a comprehensive drainage study of the Montego Bay Bypass area.

Spence explained that they welcomed the development as they have been dealing with traffic congestion issues for years as individuals try to navigate the city in an attempt to get to and from the various attractions, hotels and other areas.

“If a ship comes into port and there is a gridlock in the city for whatever reason; or if they have to catch a flight and we ask the police to escort them, they are afraid, they think there is something wrong with the island, there is unrest,” she explained.

“We want to alleviate this by having a free flow of traffic, so the timeline is still concerning,” Spence said.

During the meeting, some members asked whether the use of the bypass could be done in phases; however, the NROCC team indicated that it could not respond affirmatively at that time.

That’s another point Spence is determined to raise in future conversations.

“Whether it was phase by phase or whatever, we left there to see what needed to be done but were still disturbed about the timelines,” she said.

According to NROCC Director Stephen Edwards, the project is moving along smoothly and despite the eagerness about timelines, it’s about where it should be.

“We are about 30 percent complete for the project in total; move at a pace. We have planned this project very well, we have tried to complete a lot of the work before the rainy season, so so far it is going very well, no major challenges,” he told reporters after the meeting.

He explained that it was important to involve stakeholders, given the importance of what the new route could mean for the local tourism industry.

“They were involved before the project started and we want to continue the involvement. Now that the construction work is moving very quickly, we will be visiting much more often and engaging them regularly so that they can have the information so that they can disburse it to their members and their network,” he said.

Work on the Long Hill Bypass is expected to commence following the completion of the Montego Bay Bypass and these two segments make up the bulk of the overall project.

At the meeting, NROCC said it would also look at bypasses in Hanover Parish, specifically for Lucea and Hopewell. That news was welcomed by JHTA members.

“Lucea and Hopewell, this can’t come soon enough. Sometimes people turn back,” Spence said.

That section of road connects the tourist hotspot of Negril to Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport and other areas. There have been calls for a solution to the traffic congestion plaguing the country for some time now.

Prime Minister Andrew Holiness had announced during his budget presentation earlier this year that a 30-kilometre, four-lane bypass would be considered for that area.

Spence said it’s important to get that going as well.

“Even if they end this phase in Montego Bay, we go through Long Hill and whatever, when you get to Lucea, that problem will still exist,” she argued.

“However, we will still take it because it will still take away from the construction of Montego Bay. At least it will alleviate that and even though Hanover’s leg will still be there, we know one of them will be cauterized,” she noted.