…Work to begin on Paisley bridge next week
WESTERN BUREAU – Work is slated to begin next week on the construction of a $2-million bailey bridge at Paisley, St James.
People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for the area, Donald Colomathi, told the Observer that work on the bridge was expected to start next Monday and should be completed in another three weeks. The construction work will be undertaken by the National Works Agency (NWA).
Colomathi said a team from the NWA recently visited the site where the bridge is to be constructed, and had assured him that the work will definitely begin. “Materials for the construction of the bridge are already at the site,” he added.
Earlier this month, more than 300 residents of Paisley and Somerton blocked sections of the Adelphi to Montego Bay main road to protest the absence of a bridge in Paisley, and against the general poor condition of roads in the area.
As a result of the blockade, traffic travelling the Wakefield to Montego Bay route was diverted to the Falmouth to Montego Bay main road via Salt Marsh.
According to the residents, the Paisley bridge was washed away in January 2001 and despite numerous complaints to member of parliament, Violet Neilson, nothing has been done to have another bridge constructed.
During the protest, which lasted for more than eight hours, two of the demonstrators were hospitalised with machete wounds following an altercation with motorists who wanted to cross the blockade.
