KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Water Commission (NWC) is reporting that the reinstatement of road surfaces disturbed by essential work on its Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Reduction Programme in Kingston and St Andrew, and other projects islandwide, is being slowed by a current shortage of asphalt.

The NWC explained that while reinstatement of its road cuts have been contracted out to the National Works Agency (NWA) under a co-operative agreement between the two entities, NWA has been encountering difficulties in accessing sufficient quantities of asphalt to reinstate all the areas after work had been done by the water company.

“As such, the preparation of additional areas for reinstatement has had to be scaled down to regulate the number of locations that are opened up and which cannot be attended to immediately,” said NWC.

The commission informed that more than 3,400 square metres of road reinstatement has already been done by NWA on behalf of the NWC in Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine at a cost of approximately $10 million.

NWC said it regrets any inconvenience caused to the public and asks for continued understanding and patience.