OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Business operators affected by the closure of the Fern Gully roadway in Ocho Rios have welcomed news that the thoroughfare will reopen in December, even as some lament the economic hardships resulting from its closure.

On Tuesday, the National Works Agency (NWA) announced that phase two of the Fern Gully Restoration and Rehabilitation Project is on schedule to “be substantially completed by mid-December”, at which time the road will be reopened to vehicular traffic.

“That will put it on target for the nine-month project time they gave us. I couldn’t express more delight; the quicker, the better,” Kumar Sujanani, president of the St Ann Chamber of Commerce, told the Observer yesterday.

“Travelling the other alternative routes have been nothing short of a disaster and I’m extremely pleased to have the Fern Gully road reopening in December. I look forward to it, I would be even happier if it could have been sooner.”

Sujanani explained that since the main thoroughfare was closed in early April, he had received numerous complaints from residents, motorists and business operators about the impact of the closure.

He cited a letter written by a resident of Breadnut Hill, one of the alternative routes, who expressed grave concerns about the frequency of motor vehicle accidents and lengthy delays along that corridor.

Sujanani said the chamber had written to the NWA and the other relevant authorities seeking an update on the progress of the work and whether other remedial work could be undertaken to alleviate some of the problems in Breadnut Hill.

“This road cannot handle the amount of traffic that passes through here daily. Sometimes it is chaotic; sometimes four, five collisions and some vehicles just can’t manage the hill,” Breadnut Hill resident Delroy Smith told the Observer.

Smith said he, too, was happy that the Fern Gully would soon be reopened, pointing out that he was concerned about pedestrians and the dangers they were exposed to especially along sections of the road that are very narrow.

Meantime, business operators in Fern Gully said its closure have significantly impacted their operations.

President of the Fern Gully Craft Traders Association, Rose Garrick said many members have become frustrated at the downturn in business.

“It has been terrible, they allow tour buses in to us on ship days, but Fern Gully traders mainly depend on passers-by, our own Jamaican tourists,” Garrick said. “[At] this time of the year, we would get a lot of business, but right now we getting nothing. It’s been really terrible… the craft traders are very disturbed and disappointed.”

Prior to the closure, the vendors were told that they would have been relocated. However, Garrick said that talks with the agencies about the relocation are still ongoing and that members are optimistic that it will happen soon.

She said while news of the December reopening is welcoming, she is concerned about the present pace of the work and further impact any delays would have on their businesses.

Another business operator, Denton Fennell said while he anticipates the mid-December reopening, he would be grateful if the works are completed ahead of time, to facilitate an earlier reopening.

“I would be grateful if it could be opened by early November… because I can’t take the pressure any more,” Fennell said, urging that the contractors to consider working ’round the clock.

He said that his business, Rainforest Extravaganza, has been hit hard by the closure and that the lack of business has forced him to close a restaurant he once operated as part of rest stops. Fennell said he was struggling to keep his bar and craft shops open.

The Fern Gully Restoration and Rehabilitation Project are being undertaken at a cost of over $500 m under the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme.

The work include the installation of 1.6 kilometres of rigid concrete pavement from the vicinity of Hines Gully in the direction of Milford Road.

The NWA’s manager of communication and customer services, Stephen Shaw said approximately 70 metres of reinforced concrete “U” drain is also being constructed, 30 metres of which is complete.

He said this drain, when complete, will transport storm water runoff that passes through the gully to a box culvert that connects to another drain leading to the sea.

Phase III of the project is scheduled to begin by mid-August and will include the construction of 1.6 kilometres of drains and rehabilitation of 1.6 kilometres of roadway, which will be paved with asphaltic concrete — one kilometre from Hines Gully and continuing in the direction of Milford Road.