KINGSTON, Jamaica - The May Pen leg of the Highway 2000 was opened to vehicular traffic today at approximately 1:00pm.

Opening of this leg will result in changes in various access and exit points along the existing route:

- Access to and from the Highway will no longer be possible at Sandy Bay. Motorists travelling from Kingston may exit via Freetown to get to Sandy Bay and motorists travelling from May Pen can also exit via Freetown to get to Sandy Bay.

- The May Pen leg of the Highway ends at a new Rio Minho roundabout, and motorists will also have access to and from the May Pen leg of the Highway at Mineral Heights.

All other routes remain unchanged.

Passage through the May Pen Toll Plaza for Class 1 vehicles will be $60, Class 2 vehicles will be $90, and Class 3 vehicles will be $180.

This new 10.5 kilometre stretch of Highway 2000 east-west, is expected to cut the travel time from Sandy Bay to May Pen by at least two thirds from the current 18 minutes to only six minutes driving at the permitted speed, the administrators said .