RESIDENTS of Kintyre in St Andrew are urging the authorities to ensure that the work being carried out to erect a Bailey bridge across the Hope River in their community is completed before June 1, the start of the hurricane season on June 1.

The residents say that they are satisfied with what has happened so far, but want the authorities to step up the pace of the work as they fear that any flooding in the area would severely hamper the project. The Bailey bridge will replace the old structure, which was damaged during the passage of Hurricane Sandy last October.

“Right now we really happy to see what is happening. The work is progressing but with the [hurricane] season around the corner, we are calling on the authorities to speed up the project,” Roy Clarke, a 70-year-old resident of the community, told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

The elderly man has a genuine concern in that the area becomes impassable whenever there is prolonged rain, severely disrupting life in the community.

Yesterday, he and others watched as workmen used heavy-duty equipment to remove dirt and silt from the gully where the bridge will be erected.

“The other day rain barely fell and flooded sections of the gully where the work is being carried out, and I believe authorities should take this as an early sign,” said Rupert Fletcher, another resident.

Fletcher, who has lived in the community for more than 50 years, urged the authorities not to ignore their advice.

Another resident, Edna Green, who operates a small stall close to where the work is being carried out, agreed. She also wants the National Works Agency (NWA) to install more lights close to the work site to assist residents using the makeshift road to move from one side of the community to the other.

“At nights residents using the makeshift road are worried about their safety as the area is very dark. Therefore, we are calling on the authorities to address this problem,” said Green.

Work to erect the bridge began last December and is being carried out under the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme at a cost of $100 million.

The Kintyre bridge is the most central route used by residents of Hope Flats, Cosmo Mews, Clarke Street, St Joseph’s Road, Bedward Pastures and surrounding areas.