Sligoville, St Catherine – Manager for the National Works Agency’s St Catherine branch Douglas Moody says work should begin, within three weeks, on a broken-away section of the Sligoville main road and retaining wall.

The reassurance came Monday after residents of Pleasant Hill and Breadfruit Gully blocked the Sligoville main road/River Road intersection.

The NWA, Moody said, had decided to assume direct control of the project because they were dissatisfied with the work done by the previous contractor.

Speaking with the Observer during a tour of the community, Easton Palmer explained that the road had broken away nearly a year ago. The situation had worsened, he said, after a motorist damaged the bamboo barrier that had been placed around the gaping section as a warning to pedestrians and motorists.

The main road, Palmer said, is used as an alternative route to and from Kingston whenever the Flat Bridge becomes impassable with heavy rains.

In the past, community members have had to rescue vehicles that have almost fallen into the steep ravine below the broken-away roadway.

According to one resident, he was forced to rescue a truck driver one night after the front of the unit became precariously perched close to the edge.

“I had to take him from behind the steering wheel, and then guide the truck to a safe spot on the road,” said the man, who opted not to give his name.