PORTLAND, Jamaica — Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie has declared the Craig Mill Bridge a disaster area and hinted at plans to construct a temporary bridge to facilitate the movement of residents until a permanent structure is completed.

“I would agree to have something temporary for pedestrians, only for pedestrians,” McKenzie said during an assessment and tour of the bridge located along the Buff Bay to White Hall main road in Portland.

He was joined by Member of Parliament for Portland Western, Daryl Vaz, Minister with Responsibility for Works, Robert Morgan and other stakeholders on Tuesday.

There are also plans for a special procurement to facilitate the speedy construction of the bridge.

The Craig Mill Bridge collapsed in December of last year under the weight of a truck laden with stones. The structure was first rendered unsafe and closed in 2018 but was later reopened due to the river being in spate.

Vaz highlighted the urgent need for a temporary bridge to facilitate the movement of residents, who he said become stranded when the river is in spate.

“This bridge was condemned in 2012, they put the signs up and blocked it off. But because the river was in spate, they removed the blockade. A month or two ago, a truck went across it and dropped through the middle of it, which means that the kids don’t have any way of crossing now because they use that to cross, and the vehicles use that to cross,” Vaz said. “The situation is now that they have no way to cross when the river is in spate.”