THE eastbound off-ramp at Old Harbour, which gives Highway 2000 East-West motorists travelling from May Pen access to Old Harbour and its environs, was officially opened Wednesday morning by Minister of Transport, Works and Housing Omar Davies.

The off-ramp, however, has been accessible to the public since December of last year.

“This opening is beneficial in two ways, both business and education and for communities in Old Harbor as well as for schoolchildren. You know a large percentage of students in high school head for Clarendon [from Old Harbour] but coming back poses a difficulty because taxis would either have to go to Spanish Town and turn around or go through the old road,” Davies told the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The minister added that businesses, including the May Pen Chamber of Commerce, as well as the custos and the mayor had, for a long time, been lobbying to get the ramp, and so “it’s a win-win situation for everybody”.

The eastbound off-ramp became operational following the completion of an interchange at Old Harbour.

“One of our main objectives as the developer of Highway 2000 East-West is to identify the needs of customers and find ways to meet them as best as possible. The decision to open an eastbound off-ramp in Old Harbour was taken in order to allow users of the highway to access the town when coming from May Pen,” managing director of TransJamaican Highway Limited, Guillaume Allain, said.

Allain said the opening of the eastbound off-ramp comes with a few changes to the speed limit in the area. Motorists approaching the area of the ramp will be permitted to travel at a maximum speed of 80 kilometres per hour, while those using the ramp itself will be limited to a speed of 50 kilometres per hour.