THE National Works Agency (NWA) has been doing extensive repairs in western Jamaica, valued at about half a billion dollars.

According to the agency’s public relations officer for the region, Stephen Shaw, the work includes drainage work along the Anchovy to Reading main road in St James. This leg, which is now in its final stages, is being done in preparation for next month’s re-paving of the six-kilometre stretch. The re-paving will be carried out under the National Road Improvement Programme.

“The drainage work started in late November and is expected to be concluded in another two weeks when the re-paving of the first two kilometres of the road from Reading will start,” the NWA said in a release.

Work on the Walespond to Bogue main road, which will be used as an alternate route for light vehicles travelling from Anchovy to Montego Bay, is also in its final stages. “This route will be necessary in order to allow a free passage for heavy-duty equipment carrying out aspects of the work,” the agency said. Only trucks will be allowed to use the Reading to Anchovy road during construction.

In addition to these projects, work is also being undertaken on an additional 70 kilometres of roadway in the western end of the island. These include the Jackson to Ulster Spring route in Trelawny, Marchmont to Seaford Town, Marchmont to Retrieve and Chester Castle to Jacks Gate in Westmoreland. Work is also being done on the route from Silver Spring to Salt Spring in Hanover as well as the Sign to Guilsbro road in St James.