MONTEGO BAY, St James — One day before the new school year began a new bridge was unveiled at the heavily trafficked Farm crossroads in Cornwall Courts, St James.

It replaced one that was damaged in July, and residents are thrilled. So too was the mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, who cut the symbolic ribbon.

“I am pleased that in having announced that we would have this ready before the start of the academic year, we are here today to cut the ribbon of this new bridge,” he said to applause during a ceremony on Sunday.

The mayor emphasised the magnitude of the impact the downed bridge — which serves several communities — has had over the last few months.

“Over 30,000 people were inconvenienced due to the collapse of the bridge — and that’s a lot of people,” Vernon remarked.

“Cornwall Courts is the second-largest NHT [National Housing Trust] development in Jamaica, and with that we know the number of persons who have to connect via this bridge to Montego Bay, and we know of the confusion we would have had if we had not done this work prior to school [resuming],” he added.

A Green Pond resident who only identified himself as Norman knows exactly what the mayor means. He was among those who felt the financial impact when forced to take another route. He said he went via Porto Bell, and that cost him $100 more each trip.

“Now this open, things get back to normal. I really appreciate it. It’s less stress for me,” Norman said.

He admitted that he was doubtful the new bridge would have been in place in time, and he had worried about what this would mean for parents and students.

“I was very concerned for the short time that they had before school reopened but I see them work very hard and now we have the bridge in place,” he said.

Virell Taylor, an elderly resident of Cornwall Courts who said she had been paying $50 more, is also happy the new bridge is in place.

“I have to be depending on my children for financing so I thank God the bridge opened this morning so we can drive freely and pay less money,” she told the
Observer on Sunday.

“I like the bridge because [in its absence] we had to drive all the way up the hill, and when we go, sometimes the traffic is so long [that] we have to wait. When I see this bridge start to build I said, ‘Thank you Lord,’ “ added Taylor.

According to the mayor, the municipal corporation used the opportunity of replacing the bridge to make additional improvements to infrastructure in the area.

“The surrounding sections of the gully got some touch-up, some enhancement to the space to reinforce it because it was in a condition that was concerning,” he explained.

“We built new sidewalks that also have access for persons with disabilities,” Vernon added.

He also gave the assurance that there are plans to replace the bus stop that was removed to accommodate the new bridge.

The previous bridge collapsed on July 2 following damage to the plastic drain beneath it. There are unconfirmed reports that debris inside the drain was set on fire, compromising the integrity of the drain and eventually leading to the collapse of the bridge.

Councillor for the Salt Spring Division in which the structure is located, Gregory Harris said the new bridge won’t be susceptible to that sort of action going forward.

“I must use this opportunity to say a big thank you to the residents for their patience and their understanding because this roadway is so critical that we had to get it done,” he said.

“However, we had to get it done the right and proper way. I’m sure that no fire will be able to damage this again and I’m sure that this can withstand whatever water will be flowing here,” Harris declared.

The new and improved bridge is said to be more resilient and is equipped with more inlets and outlets, which provide greater drainage capacity.