SPARK main roads component to start in St James this month — Morgan

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The main road component of the Government’s SPARK programme is set to get underway in western Jamaica, specifically St James this month, with the Montego Bay to Great River corridor (Reading section) being the first to see work. The focus will then shift to Howard Cooke Boulevard and Alice Eldemire Drive. Minister with responsibility for Works, Robert Morgan, gave the update on the SPARK at Wednesday’s post-Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House.

He said Hanover will also see significant work under the main roads component of the $45 billion programme. “We’ve received a lot of complaints from tourism interests in Hanover, so we’re also going to be starting in October Great River to Sandy Bay,” Morgan said. He noted that Hanover was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the SPARK main road programme, as, Great River to Sandy Bay aside, the parish will also see work on the Sandy Bay to Lucea and Lucea to Green Island roads.

“This will alleviate some of the challenges that tourism interests have been having,” Morgan said. The works minister told the briefing that the Government has earmarked $25 billion to rehabilitate 37 priority roads under the main roads component of the programme. “We have announced 37 main roads or sections of main roads across 10 to 11 parishes.

So between now and November, we’re going to be starting eight of the main roads, and between January and March, 11; April to May, 18; for a total of 37,” Morgan shared. Work is also slated to commence on Molynes Road (Half-Way Tree to Washington Boulevard) in St Andrew in Hanover in October. Additionally, road sections proposed for commencement in November 2026 include Seaward Drive to Olympic Way in St Andrew; Port Henderson Road (Bayside to Naggo Head) in St Catherine; and May Pen to Sour Sop Turn in Clarendon.

“Next year, in January, we’re going to be doing Cooperage to Gordon Town to Mavis Bank, St Andrew; Gregory Park Main Road (Dyke Road to Grange Lane), St Catherine; Lucea to Green Island, Hanover; and Troy to Warsop, Trelawny,” Morgan said. In February 2027, work is proposed to commence on Red Hills Road (Perkins Boulevard to Swain Spring Road) in St Andrew; Claremont to Golden Grove in St Ann; Salt Pond Road (Braeton Road to Phoenix Park) and Hill Run Road (from the toll road to the industrial area) in St Catherine; and Green Island to the Hanover parish border.