A new overpass pedestrian bridge was opened in Top Sharper Lane in Clarendon last Friday, as a result of intensive lobbying from community members.

“The bridge was built in response to the needs of the. community. many of whose children attend the Alexander School and the Hillview Early Childhood School, located on either side of the highway,” explained concessionaires, TransJamaican Highway (TJH).

The roughly 600 residents had complained that the designers had failed to factor their need to cross the road into the project’s design. Numerous holes were made in the perimeter fence – designed to keep out pedestrians and stray animals – as some residents tried to reach the other side.

More holes were left as thieves stole the fence.

One man was killed after his car collided with a stray cow, and soon after the road was opened a toddler was almost run over after wriggling through a hole and walking onto the highway.

The new pre-fabricated bridge took six months to build and was erected over three hours last Monday night. According to TJH managing director, Trevor Jackson, additional work had to be done by the contractors – Bouyges Travaux Publics Jamaican Branch – which delayed the opening.

The bridge is the ninth overpass or underpass pedestrian crossing to be built along the 13-kilometre Old Harbour Dualisation of Highway 2000.