KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Within the next 10 days residents of Kintyre and surrounding communities in rural St Andrew will have the use of a new bridge.

The structure is a permanent replacement for a fording, which was severely damaged during heavy rains late last year.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Richard Azan, who toured the work site on July 15, expressed satisfaction at the pace and progress of the construction of the bridge.

Azan told journalists that the contractor is working within the $100 million budget and the given schedule to complete the approximately 200-foot, two-lane bridge and associated works.  

Some $40 million of the amount is to be spent on river training and construction of a walkway for pedestrians, which will take place after the bridge is in place.  

“The major thing is to get the bridge up so that in case we have rain, and you know that we are in the hurricane season…, we are rushing so that at least motorists and pedestrians can use it in the meanwhile,” Azan said.

“We are asking for the time being that adults don’t allow the children on the bridge because it is not complete. I wouldn’t want the children to be on the bridge,” he added.

Meanwhile Chief Executive Officer, National Works Agency (NWA), E G Hunter, said that the project is being undertaken as part of the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP)/Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) initiative. 

“This one got started late in the day, but thankfully, we were able to execute most of the works without any adverse weather impacts. We look forward to the completion of this job within the next 10 days,” he said.