MONTEGO BAY, St James — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that plans are afoot by the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) to redevelop the roadway in Montego Freeport “to facilitate the continued growth of the area”.

Speaking during the recent renaming of the Southern Cross Boulevard in Freeport to the Tony Hart Boulevard, in recognition of the work done to develop the mixed-use community by the late politician and philanthropist Anthony Hart (better known as Tony Hart), Holness stated that a public-private partnership will be utilised to bring the development to fruition.

“To facilitate the continued growth of the area the Port Authority will be redeveloping the roadway to create several passageways for buses and commercial transport, private vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians,” Holness informed during his keynote address.

“The planning for this is very advanced. Of course, just to be clear, whenever the Government plans anything like this it has the process of public participation. The people who live here and the people who traverse here will have a say in the design. It doesn’t always mean that the design will be what you say, but it will incorporate what makes sense overall for the design.”

Among the public partners are the PAJ, the St James Municipal Corporation (SJMC) and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), the prime minister said.

Holness noted that this approach will ensure that “the design satisfies everybody and, in particular, does justice to the vision that Tony [Anthony] had.”

Pointing to the PAJ’s commitment in developing the Montego Freeport area, Holness said measures will also be put in place to preserve the environment.

“The port authority has acquired the green areas separating the lagoon and the roadways, and is committed to maintaining and developing this area in a way that is environmentally sustainable whilst allowing new attractions and entertainment along the boulevard,” said Holness.

According to Holness, the continued development of the Montego Freeport is what Hart “envisioned” when he first created the mixed-use community in the 1960s.

“The seamless integration of commercial, maritime, residential, hospitality and pleasurable activities along…the Tony Hart Boulevard, reflects the multifaceted nature of the man who conceived of reclaiming the lands to construct the peninsula,” the prime minister said.

“The dynamic nature of the development, graceful evolution, and the continued transformation of the area will be what Tony envisioned when he created the Freeport. So the tree that he planted will grow and will bear many fruits for us to continue to benefit, and to our sustenance,” he added.

Hart’s vision for development was not limited to Montego Freeport but instead the philanthropist yearned for the overall growth of the country, Holness noted.

Among Hart’s wishes were the development of the Long Hill bypass and the beautification of the highways across the island.

The prime minister said he is confident that Hart would be happy to know that work has started on the Long Hill bypass and the beautification project.

“I know he would be smiling that this is being done,” Holness commented.

“He [also] said [he was desirous of] the beautification of the main highways with flowering trees, and that is in the works. In fact, what we have decided to do now in defining main roads in that it is not just putting down the black top surface,” the prime minister explained.

“All the major road work that we are doing now, streetscaping will be a critical part of it and of course, the use of technology, the integration of sensors on the road. I can’t say that we would have fulfilled everything that Tony would have wished for, but we are working on it and we are glad to be living in Tony’s vision.”