MANDEVILLE, Manchester — With work on the US$188-million May Pen to Williamsfield leg of Highway 2000 advancing uphill in Manchester, as of next month eastbound traffic will be diverted from the Melrose bypass to the Old Melrose Road for up to seven months.

Vendors at the Melrose Yam Park, popularly known for roast yam and salt fish, told the Jamaica Observer that they are bracing for any potential reduction in business with less traffic expected on the bypass, which is being incorporated in the highway project.

The traffic changes and possible nuisances have also affected the timing of plans by an investor who, on April 1, took over the management of the facility from the Manchester Municipal Corporation.

The 15-year management contract will see Ideas Execution — a construction and renovation business — building a jerk centre and car wash at the yam park and rebranding it as Melrose Village.

Chief executive officer of Ideas Execution Kevin Frith told the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday that the seven-month phase of the highway project to incorporate the Melrose Bypass into the highway project was recently brought to his attention.

“At this stage I don’t have a solution, but we are thinking about it as to what is the best arrangement at this time, given the impact that [the vendors] will face,” he said.

Carol “Shelly” McLean, a vendor for over 20 years, said business has already been fluctuating since the facility was reopened.

“It is going to be very sticky with one-way traffic for now and we just come back out,” she said on Wednesday.

The property, located adjacent to a section of the Melrose Hill bypass, was reopened last December following a fourth-month closure.

“Business is up and down. It is better than when we were sitting home for four months,” she said.

She said she was looking forward to a meeting with key agencies involved in the highway’s construction.

“Just come to us and say the road is going to be turned to one-way next month so we are bracing towards it,” she said.

The highway project — which will reduce travel time between Kingston, Mandeville, and points west — was originally scheduled for completion in October 2022, but has been extended to March 2023.

Last month China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) said the project was 67 per cent complete.

Frith said the project to renovate the yam park is being re-examined due to the nuisances that the highway construction will bring.

“We have all the architectural drawings and the construction drawings for the facility. However, there are some things that are being finalised between myself and the council, in terms of certain arrangements pertaining to the property, before we can actually start the construction,” he said.

“We [are] also looking at our timing for the completion and the launch opening. All those things are now being impacted by that seven-month construction phase of the roadway. In terms of how long it will take for us to put up the structure, we are doing it in phases — car wash for the first phase and jerk centre for the second phase — to be completed within a six-month period,” he added.

“Based on the traffic changes now that would have impacted how we execute now, based on what will happen to the facility, because we don’t want to carry out certain work now, and then it is basically defaced by dust and other impact from the roadwork,” he said.

National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC) said following consultations with the local municipality and vendors at the Melrose Yam Park, it has set aside land to build eight additional stalls.

When asked about his company’s management contract and the plan by NROCC to build the additional stalls, Frith said he is awaiting more details.

“I am hoping that, given the work that I will be doing with the existing facility and the vendors, it will show that we have the capability of growing these vendors and helping them to grow their business. I would hope that for the other side we can enter into a similar arrangement,” he said.

Paulette Howell, who operates in one of the 12 stalls at the yam park, said she is keeping her options open to do business on the bypass or on the old road.

“What I plan to do is to make something around by my gate on the Old Melrose Road to survive for the seven months,” she said.

When contacted Medical Officer of Health for Manchester Dr Nadine Williams sought to remind vendors about the need for a food handling establishment licence.

“… Wherever they are preparing the food it would have to be inspected and passed as a food handling establishment just like at the yam park,” she said.

Asked about roadside yam stalls, some of which are still on the old road, if vendors were to use them, Dr Williams said they would not be inspected.

“It would not be able to even satisfy the basic requirements because you need to have bathroom facilities, wash stations, and those things, so we wouldn’t seek to inspect a yam stall,” she said.

“It is for people to know that when they purchase from those [vendors] they are putting themselves at risk,” she added.

NROCC, which is responsible for overseeing the design, construction, and maintenance of Jamaica’s highways, has since met with the vendors and stakeholders, including the police, National Works Agency, and political representatives.

With eastbound traffic being diverted to the Old Melrose Hill road, where some of the vendors were over 20 years ago, some residents and a bar operator are hopeful that it will bring economic benefits to the area.

A man who identified himself as Kevin said it will drive revenue in the area.

“It is a good vibes still, because the people can build up dem shop and get a little sale and hustling. People will make money. Mi see man a build up some stall, so you know seh little bit from this weh dem usually make on the bypass, a round yah suh everything ago come now,” he said.

He added that sections of the road are narrow.

“It ago jam up the road. Dem need to widen the bank corners. When the bigger units come around this side it ago cause problems because some parts of the road are narrow.

A bar owner, who opted not to be named, said her family business had been depending on support from residents and believes the traffic diversion will bring benefits.

“I feel great I will make a lot of profit here…Most of the time is when something bad like accidents happen on the bypass and traffic would come through here,” she said.

“Most taxis don’t even want to drive around here,” she added.