ST ANDREW, Jamaica — The construction phase of the Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network Project (SPARK) is now underway, having begun in Harbour View, St Andrew last weekend.

The work is being done along Everest Drive and will see the 1.1 kiliometre stretch of road being completely rehabilitated at a cost of $60 Million.

The works will also include waterline and fibre optic ducts installation, as well as the construction of pedestrian facilities.

SPARK, a government road rehabilitation programme, is valued at $45 billion.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness who did a walk-through of the project on Monday says that Everest Drive had been identified as one of the community roads for rehabilitation, following extensive consultations with residents.

The prime minister in speaking about the rehabilitative works now being done along Everest Drive, says that the road was being done under the $20 billion allocated to fix parochial roads under the project. A similar amount is to be used to target main roads.

The construction phase is scheduled for completion within two years, which will be followed by a one year defects liability period.

Holness was accompanied by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Robert Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Works Agency, E G Hunter, and Member of Parliament for the area, Philip Paulwell.