MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The Manchester Parish Council is to spend $11 million to correct flaws which cause a recurring cluster of potholes on Ward Avenue close to the centre of this south central town.

Councillor for the Mandeville Division Jones Oliphant (PNP) told the Jamaica Observer Central that contract bidding for the resurfacing work in line with government’s procurement guidelines is immiment.

He was unable to give timelines for the work since the “tendering process takes a little while”, but he said he expects it to be “soon”.

Meanwhile, the potholes, which have caused a serious traffic hazard and have been an embarrassing eyesore, have been patched over recent days.

The patching and statement of longer-term intent by the parish council follows an Observer Central story indicating an apparent communication breakdown between the council and water distributors the National Water Commission (NWC).

Oliphant told the newspaper at the time that resurfacing work on sections of Ward Avenue — where potholes have been recurring for years — had to await the NWC’s repair of leaking pipes.

However, the NWC told Observer Central that repairs were carried out last December.

Last week, the councillor said the NWC information was corroborated.

Oliphant said an important aspect of the $11-million resurfacing project will be to “lift the road so that the water doesn’t settle”.