MONTEGO BAY, St James — Presidents of the St Ann and Montego Bay chambers of commerce are asking for clarity on plans to toll sections of roads that are anticipated to be heavily trafficked once constructed.

The areas of concern are a stretch of road from Ocho Rios to Montego Bay, and the Long Hill bypass on the outskirts of the western city.

“We were not told that it will be a toll road. So that information is now new to me,” stated St Ann Chamber of Commerce President Dr Ransford Davidson when asked for a comment.

“We are aware of the development of the four-lane highway from Montego Bay into Ocho Rios. In fact, we would have met with their impact assessment team over time, looking at the potential impact for businesses, and community members along that particular stretch as a part of the overarching assessment,” added Davidson.

Addressing the recent Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace in St James, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett revealed that the St Ann leg of the road will be tolled. His comments were part of a wider update on infrastructure investment in airports and road networks that will facilitate the growth of the tourism industry.

“From Ocho Rios into Montego Bay, a new alignment, a new highway system is going to be there — a toll road connecting the North-South Highway — all the way to the border of Trelawny and St Ann. And then, another stretch of the highway that will take you from there to the interior of St James to connect with the new bypass of Montego Bay. The perimeter road is now being built which will bypass downtown Montego Bay to relieve you of all that traffic congestion,” Bartlett stated then.

However, Davidson is of the view that there is a need for consultation with stakeholders before a decision is made. His concern is that a tolled road will pose a financial challenge for commuters.

“When there is any additional expense in this climate, it will be a challenge accepting additional expenses. That would be my response. I feel that there would have to be some discussion, some consultation before a final decision is made on that,” he argued.

Davidson agreed that income from the toll may be needed to maintain the road but argued that other sources of funds could be explored.

“The encouragement would be to weigh the options and make the best possible decision because the safety of our citizens is also important, so the maintenance of the facility will also be critical. I’m hoping that that will be well thought out and the correct decision made as it pertains to maintenance of the highway,” Davidson added.

Meanwhile, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce Oral Heaven has indicated that questions about the tolling of the Long Hill bypass will be raised when members gather next. He said hey have invited National Road Operating and Constructing Company Limited (NROCC), which is overseeing the road work on behalf of the Government, to attend.

According to Heaven, members — including past presidents — do not think the Long Hill bypass should be a toll road.

“Personally, I think we have to maintain the road because it’s a highway,” stated Heaven.

He stressed that while there has been a lot of talk about the road being tolled, NROCC has indicated that it is yet to sign off on a decision.

“What will the toll be? We don’t know. We’re going to have a discussion with the leadership of NROCC. We are inviting them to the chamber for a meeting next month. We’re going to have a discussion to be able to ask some questions about what is happening,” added Heaven.