RICHARD Azan, the junior minister for works, transport, and housing, says phase five of the multimillion dollar Jamaica Emergency Employment (JEEP) project, involving the Major Infrastructure Development Programme (MIDP), is now underway.

The phase of the programme, according to the minister, is scheduled for completion by November 30.

Minister Azan said that this new phase of JEEP project is progressing well, as up to July 31 some 66 contracts had been issued for projects in 62 of the island’s 63 constituencies.

Works under this phase of the JEEP project include road rehabilitation, pothole patching, repairs to walls, gratings, sidewalks, drains, and bridges, as well as the construction of retaining walls.

According to Azan, $930 million has been allocated for works across the 63 constituencies during the 2015/2016 financial year, while an additional amount of $78.2 million will be spent on the rehabilitation of parish council roads islandwide.

Minister Azan said projects underway in St James were 20 per cent complete, while those in Westmoreland were at 55 per cent near completion. In St Catherine, four road projects have been completed and two projects were at 70 per cent of completion.

In Clarendon, work on projects commenced recently and are at various stages of completion, while contracts issued for projects in St Thomas, St Elizabeth, Trelawny, Hanover and Manchester are scheduled to get underway shortly.