MEMBERS of the Buff Bay business community in Portland are blaming the flooding of the town on the construction of the north coast highway which has resulted in the road being raised from its original height.

Business man and home owner Joseph Melhado has not been able to drive into his yard as the height of the road has prevented him from doing so, ever since the highway was constructed some years ago.

The approximately three-foot high roadway has also impacted on motorists driving up to his wholesale.

“Because of the height of the road no vehicle can drive into my home. Several persons have visited here but nothing has happened and I can’t open the business because of the height of the road” he said.

President of the Buff Bay Business Watch George Valentine said when the North Coast Highway was being built the level of the road surface was raised which eliminated some of the drains and this causes flooding whenever it rains.

“We have written to the National Works Agency on the matter and have spoken to them and they are aware of the situation but nothing has been done to correct the problem,” Valentine told the Jamaica Observer North East.

“On one occasion we were told that it was not in the last budget to be adjusted,” he explained further.

On Thompson Avenue, the road’s surface is two to three feet higher and there is no walkway as that has been eliminated.

“At the entrance to some of the minor roads, concrete has been used to link the roads and there is no place for the water to run off when it rains hence the area is flooded,” he said.

Residents say, motor vehicles are often damaged because of the height of the roadway.