MINISTER without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Robert Morgan is confident that the Government’s ambitious work programme, SPARK, (Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network), will begin before the end of this year.

Addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday, Morgan said the Public Investment Management Committee (PIMC) approved $45 billion for the road improvement programme on Tuesday, October 29.

He pointed out that with the approval by PIMC, the programme will now go to the Public Procurement Committee, where it is expected to be approved, and then it will go before the Infrastructure Committee and Cabinet.

“So, we are on track for the first road to be fixed before the end of the year,” Morgan said.

He told the media briefing that more than 600 community roads have been submitted to be repaired during the SPARK community consultations.

“We have, so far, had consultations in 62 of 63 constituencies. Each constituency would have submitted approximately 10 roads each. We will not be fixing all 630 roads in the first year of the programme, but a significant number will be procured,” said Morgan while he refused to name the constituency for which the work plan has not been submitted.

“We will be having engagements with various stakeholders such as Petrojam to deal with asphalt production. We have been working with the presumed enterprise contractor about their alliances with the local contractors, who are very important partners in the SPARK programme,” added Morgan.

He said Jamaicans will be able to track the roads to be repaired under SPARK as a website is being finalised and is expected to go live in another two to three weeks.

“We will be publishing on the SPARK website every single road that will be repaired and a presumptive timeline as to when they will be repaired,” said Morgan.

In the meantime Stephen Shaw, communication and customer services manager at the National Works Agency (NWA), which will be the implementing for SPARK, has pointed out that through the programme Jamaica is investing not only in infrastructure but in a more prosperous country.

“We look forward to seeing SPARK in action, building a better Jamaica, one road at a time,” said Shaw.

SPARK is set to rehabilitate hundreds of roads, incorporating upgrades such as pavement resurfacing, drainage improvements and fibre optic duct installations. It will also enhance connectivity across the island, improving access to essential services, jobs, and educational opportunities for residents in both urban and rural areas.

The SPARK Programme is part of NWA’s ongoing push to enhance infrastructure islandwide, joining other initiatives such as the Relief Emergency Assistance and Community Help (REACH), Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), and Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP) programmes.