MONTEGO BAY, St James — An old bedhead and the top of a broken table used to cobble together a crude guard rail serve as warning that there is danger on the road between John’s Hall and Spring Mount in southern St James. One section appears on the verge of collapse, much like a nearby house whose foundation was eroded by Hurricane Melissa, last October, and commuters are worried. “I’m afraid but mi just have to drive on it, can’t do better,” a shopkeeper who identified herself as Sancia told the Jamaica Observer Tuesday.
“If little rain fall it gone, because underneath it, it’s deteriorating,” she explained. The gaping cavern in a section of the Spring Mount Road is just a few kilometres up the hill, impassable as residents eagerly await word from the Government on when it will be repaired. Now, they have added the danger at John’s Hall to their list of urgent issues.
When contacted, community relations officer for the National Works Agency (NWA), Western Region, Janel Ricketts said they are aware of this latest development at John’s Hall. Though none were seen by the Observer, she said signs are in place to help guide motorists. A truck navigates the single lane that is left in one section of the road at John’s Hall, St James, which is showing signs of deterioration.
For shopkeeper Sancia and others who use the road, help cannot come soon enough as the alternative route is longer and more costly. What was once a straight route from John’s Hall to Montego Bay has now become a meandering journey to Sunderland, around Blackshop, and through Patosi. “And the hottest part is we dropping out right at the square down there and we don’t reach Montego Bay as yet.
It’s going to be more money, more gas, more everything,” Sancia lamented. She also highlighted challenges being faced by students in that area of the community. This house on the opposite side of the road that has broken away is facing imminent collapse.
“Children that live here now that have to go Maldon are paying double or triple fare because they have to take taxi from here go to Montego Bay and a next taxi go and vice versa,” Sancia explained. “It bad for everybody: Parents, children, business owners,” she added. A roadside vendor in John’s Hall who chose not to prov…
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