OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Members of the business community and residents alike have welcomed news that work on the $500-million repair project for Fern Gully in the parish has resumed.

The project, which is a part of the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP), was halted in January following the change of government, ostensibly to sort out payment to contractors and subcontractors.

Work, however, resumed last Thursday, and manager of communications and customer services at the National Works Agency Stephen Shaw told the Jamaica Observer North East that the project should be completed within five months.

During the time that work stopped, there were repeated calls from residents, including those who had been employed on the project, and from Member of Parliament for North East St Ann, Shahine Robinson, for the project to resume.

Motorists, too, complained about the condition in which the road had been left, as trenches by the side of the thoroughfare were left open. They also complained about the absence of signs warning them of danger or indicating where sections of the road had narrowed to facilitate only one-way traffic.

One taxi operator, Milton Bryon, said he was pleased that work had resumed and that he hoped the project would be completed in a short time because the work, which orginally started on the major thoroughfare last year, have greatly inconvenience motorists and commuters.

“The work should have been completed long time ago; long before the election they said the work would have been finished,” he complained.

“I’m happy that they have restarted and I just hope that there are no more delays because this is the main road.”

President of the St Ann Chamber of Commerce Kumar Sujanani told the Observer North East that the resumption of work on the project was welcome news not only for business operators, but residents who had been affected by the road work.

“It is extremely welcoming news. Most delayed, but most welcoming, we hope that the entire project will be speedily accomplished because it has been a matter of tremendous concern to the chamber,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NWA communications manager said the contractor of the project, China Harbour Engineering Company would continue with the installation of the ‘U’ drain from the bottom of Fern Gully.

Under the Fern Gully Rehabilitation project, 1.6 kilometres of roadway is to be constructed with concrete, and a ‘U’ drain along with five box culverts built along a 1.4-kilometre stretch.