Road rehabilitation works to begin in Ocho Rios this weekend

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Works Agency (NWA) is advising motorists and pedestrians that road rehabilitation works will begin in the Ocho Rios township this weekend as part of a multimillion-dollar improvement project. In a press release on Friday, the NWA said the works are scheduled to commence at 8:00 pm on Saturday and will result in intermittent traffic changes across several sections of the town over the next 10 days. Manager of Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw, said Main Street will be reduced periodically to single-lane traffic as crews remove the existing asphalt surface through a milling process.

Approximately 700 metres of roadway between Island Village and the intersection of Milford Road will be targeted during the initial phase of the project. Shaw said rehabilitation works will also be carried out along the section of roadway between the entrance to the Moon Palace Hotel and the Ocho Rios Market, covering approximately 300 metres. Additional repairs will be undertaken at Fisherman’s Beach, where failed sections of the road embankment will be removed and reconstructed using suitable road materials before the area is repaved.

The project will also include repairs to sidewalks along the North Coast Highway between Evelyn Street and Bucksfield, Shaw said. Upon completion, the newly paved sections will feature road markings and raised pavement markers, commonly known as “cat’s eyes”, to improve visibility and safety for road users. Shaw noted that some activities will be conducted at night to reduce disruptions, while other sections will operate under single-lane traffic arrangements during the construction period.

He added that once the Ocho Rios township works are completed, patching activities will begin along the North Coast Highway between White River and Milford Road. The NWA is urging members of the public to follow posted warning signs and comply with the instructions of flag people while the more than $50-million beautification project is being carried out.