KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the expansion of Grange Lane in Portmore, St Catherine is a proactive measure to prepare for the anticipated increase in traffic resulting from the Bernard Lodge development and the proposed transition of Portmore to a parish.

Holness underscored this during a tour of the dualisation project on Friday.

He said the road works are part of the Government’s Special Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Programme which was launched in 2022 to upgrade critical road corridors within certain urban spaces.

“Portmore was selected because, obviously, the traffic is growing in Portmore and growing rapidly. But more than that, this is kind of a pre-emptive development because we have invested heavily in the Bernard Lodge development, and that will bring even more traffic into Portmore. But more importantly, as Portmore becomes a parish, it is important that it has a road network that can carry the traffic and, indeed, support the development of an urban cluster within the parish,” Holness pointed out.

He said the rationale behind selecting Grange Lane for expansion was based on how narrow the thoroughfare was, and with the ingress and egress of traffic, the flow would often slow down significantly.

To further enhance vehicular flow and management, National Works Agency (NWA) Senior Director of Project Implementation, Varden Downer, shared that each intersection along Grange Lane will be equipped with traffic signals.

The project will also include broadband and fibre optics infrastructure as well as an upgraded drainage system, including storm-water drainage.

Workmen placing paving stones in the sidewalk as part of rehabilitation and expansion works being carried out under the Grange Lane Dualisation Project in Portmore, St Catherine. Prime Minister Andrew Holness toured the area on Friday, February 28 to get a project update. (Photo: JIS/Vanessa James)

Additionally, four bus bays will be installed along the roadway. These will allow buses to stop without impeding the flow of traffic.

Paving stones are being used for streetscaping, and the Forestry Department will collaborate on planting trees to beautify the area.

Provision is also being made for people who are wheelchair users or visually impaired, with the installation of a tactile mat into the sidewalk that will emit vibrations when individuals step on it. This will alert a disabled person when they are at a safe crossing point.

Downer indicated that this feature will be added to all the upcoming road works in Portmore.

“[Projects] we have coming on stream very shortly [include] Braeton to part of Hellshire main road from Naggo Head heading towards Braeton, just by where you have the JUTC (Jamaica Urban Transit Company) depot. Then we will head up to Hellshire Road, which is, in part, because of the large population of Greater Portmore and its environs there. That traffic bottlenecks every day, especially in the evening; that [project] should bring significant relief to those who actually traverse that particular area,” he outlined.

“We also have the new entry to Portmore coming from Mandela Highway along Municipal Boulevard, which is scheduled to be widened and dualised to four lanes coming all the way to this intersection and a little bit beyond as well. And that is part of the improvement, particularly with the Greater Bernard Lodge development, as it’s scheduled to come on stream,” Downer further stated.

With various road-improvement works planned, the prime minister affirmed that they are in alignment with Portmore’s impending transition to a parish.

“So Portmore is [being] given requisite attention as it transitions to its rightful status as a parish. Portmore has, in the last 50 years, developed its own organic way of life,” he said.

The NWA has indicated that the Grange Lane Rehabilitation Project is 90 per cent complete, with works scheduled to be finalised by March 2025.

— JIS