ST JAMES, Jamaica — Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, has announced plans for the repair of more than 20 roads across the parish by December 2024.

The $150-million initiative is being led by the St James Municipal Corporation, in partnership with the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), and the National Housing Trust (NHT).

The Mayor, who is also chairman of the Corporation, was at the monthly meeting of the entity on Thursday, October 10.

Roads to be repaired include Providence Heights, Palm Tree Drive, Bogue Hill Road, Mount Zion Road, Plum Tree Drive, Cornwall Gardens, Catherine Mount, Charles Drive, Peace View Road, Jungle Road, Bottom Cambridge Road, Richmond Hill, Copperwood, Lightbody Avenue, among others.

Repairs will also cover various roads in the downtown area, including drainage upgrades for Love Lane.

Consequently, infrastructural development will extend to the Elegant Corridor which spans the area between the Sangster International Airport round-a-bout and Iberostar Hotel in Lilliput, through the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

“The Ministry has paid over $68.8 million to the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Company for the takeover of the Elegant Corridor,” the mayor said.

The operation will cover the reinstallation and the redirection of the light poles that were damaged.

“This is about improving the safety within the area, the overall aesthetics, and improving one of our main economic assets, tourism,” Councillor Vernon said.

– JIS