THE National Works Agency (NWA) says it has taken action against the contractor for segment three of the North Coast Highway, E Pihl and Sons, for its failure to maintain the existing roadway in an acceptable condition.

“Under the contract for the construction of the roadway, Pihl is expected to maintain the 96-kilometre stretch from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio. The company has, however, been tardy in doing so,” the NWA said in a statement Tuesday.

The statement came a day after taxi operators led demonstrations in east and west Portland, effectively locking down the parish to protest against the deplorable conditions of the roads in the parish.

Stephen Shaw, the NWA’s communications manager, said the agency has withheld payment to Pihl, while giving the company an ultimatum to improve its service of ongoing maintenance of the existing roadway.

According to Shaw, the contract for the construction of the roadway allows for the NWA to withhold sums for traffic management and engage the services of another company, if required.

The NWA, he added, continued to impress upon the contractor, the importance of maintaining the existing roadway in a satisfactory condition.

In the meantime, Shaw says work is slated to resume next week on the Port Antonio to Hectors River main road, which forms part of the $1.2-billion National Road Services Improvement Programme, which has been implemented in the parishes of Portland, St Thomas, St Catherine, Manchester and Westmoreland.

Work to be done include the patching of potholes and rehabilitation of sections that are badly eroded.

Shaw said other areas in Portland were also slated for attention. These include the roadway from Fellowship to Berrydale, Riverview to Windsor and East Palm Avenue in Port Antonio.