Minister of water and housing Donald Buchanan has signed the contract for the $3.35-million construction of a transport centre at Darliston in Westmoreland.

The signing took place in the parish on Thursday.

Work on the centre, a much needed facility in the rural town, is expected to begin within another two weeks. It is expected to take contractors, Sanjon Asphalting Company, up to 16 weeks to complete.

On completion the centre, which is to be located in the middle of town and on lands donated by the Westmoreland Parish Council, is to have:

. 43 parking bays for taxis and buses;

. a ticket office;

. five gazebos; and

. sanitary conveniences.

According to Buchanan, the construction of the centre is but one of the two phases of the project they intend to undertake. Phase two, he said, is to see the construction of several shops to accommodate vendors.

Meanwhile, taxi operators, who were on location to witness the signing, said they were pleased with the move by the government and that they intended to take care of the facility. According to them, the centre will lend a “better look” to the town when the dilapidated structure, which was once the Darliston market, is removed.