STEPHEN Shaw, manager of communication and customer services at the National Works Agency (NWA), says major road works currently being done are primarily designed to improve the capacity and efficiency of critical nodes in the Corporate Area road network, as well as facilitate connectivity between the city, neighbouring parishes and town centres such as St Mary, Portland, St Catherine, Portmore, and Spanish Town.

“In another six months or so, we should be hearing accounts of shorter travel time, far more comfortable commute, safer pedestrian access and better opportunities for enforcement,” Shaw told Tuesday’s meeting of the Rotary Club of Spanish Town at the Police Officer’s Club in Kingston.

“The NWA has now truly broken the back of all four major road work projects currently being undertaken at critical locations around the city of Kingston and St Catherine. These road improvement projects are being done along a section of Constant Spring Road, virtually all of Hagley Park Road, the Mandela Highway and a little over a kilometre-and-a-half of Barbican Road.”

Said Shaw: “The upgrades along these corridors seek to improve commute, firstly by way of road widening, where up to four lanes are being added along the Mandela Highway, and no less than two additional lanes are being constructed along the other corridors.”

“Interference of secondary traffic is being reduced with the erection of jersey barriers (lower medians) in the case of Constant Spring and Hagley Park Roads. Movement in all four directions will be accommodated at the most appropriate points along the newly-renovated corridors. These areas will have designated right turning lanes and upgraded traffic signals,” added Shaw.

Shaw said that although being 30 months into the Mandela Highway Improvement Project – six months beyond the original completion date – the works are now 91 per cent complete and that the Constant Spring and Hagley Park Road projects are still well within their contract periods, and are more than half-way complete.

According to Shaw, the bridge construction component of the Hagley Park project is set to be completed by the end of this month and that the commitment to completing the projects on time, properly, and within budget can never be doubted.

“The NWA meets routinely with their contractors – big and small – urging alacrity and quality work, as we expect these newly-rehabilitated corridors to last their projected life span,” said the NWA manager.

Shaw said that eight new locations will be signalised along Constant Spring Road. These are located mainly above Mary Brown’s Corner at Manning’s Hill Road, Hillman Road, Clifton Boulevard, Manor Centre, Norbrook Drive, Grovesnor Terrace Bridge, Stony Hill Road and Old Stony Hill Road and Stony Hill Road and Stilwell Road, while Hagley Park Road will get four additional signals at Hagley Park Prep, Keesing Avenue, Omara Road and Margaret Villa Road.