Work on the $564.7-million (US$4.4-million) Barbican Road improvement project in St Andrew is slated to commence in two weeks.

The four-month project, being implemented under the Administration’s Major Infrastructure Development Programme with funding support from the Government of China, entails significant upgrading of 1.1 kilometres of the 3.75-kilometre Barbican Road.

This will involve major improvements along the stretch between the intersections at Jack’s Hill Road and the road leading to Russell Heights, as well as East King’s House Road to the Barbican Centre, which will be widened to a four-lane carriageway.

It is expected that this will significantly alleviate the traffic congestion that has been a long-standing challenge in that area.

Other features will include conversion of the one-way sections of Barbican Road and the south-bound section of East King’s House Road by the Barbican Centre to two-way traffic; the installation of traffic signals at the Birdsucker Lane, East King’s House Road and Jack’s Hill Road intersections; widening of the Bustamante Bridge (box culvert) at the intersection with Jack’s Hill Road to accommodate four-lane traffic; construction of 1.5-metre-wide sidewalks and medians; installation of drainage pipe/culverts and LED lights; and new signs, road markings and pavement markers.

These engagements comprise the project’s second phase, following the completion of land acquisition and boundary wall construction activities.

The project is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, through the National Works Agency (NWA), and will be executed by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC).

Complementing this will be a $131-million water and sewerage infrastructure installation project that will be implemented simultaneously by the National Water Commission and executed by Surrey Paving and Aggregate Co Limited.

Contracts for the Barbican Road project were signed during a brief ceremony at Jamaica House on Wednesday, August 9.

The proceedings were witnessed by Prime Minister Andrew Holness and China’s Ambassador to Jamaica Niu Qingbao.

Holness said the Barbican Road project underpins the Government’s mission to develop a safe, reliable and quality road network that improves the development potential and interconnectivity across communities islandwide.

He pointed out that Barbican Road is located at the centre of several major arterial and collector roadways, and that a recent survey showed it facilitates the movement of more than 26,000 vehicles daily.

Ambassador Niu said it should contribute to significant improvement in business and commerce in and around the area.

He also expressed confidence that CHEC would deliver a project of the highest quality and standard within the stipulated timeline and budget.