MONTEGO BAY, St James — Motorists using sections of the unfinished Montego Bay perimeter road are being urged to stop doing so.

This word of caution comes from managing director of the National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC) Limited Stephen Edwards, following news that a car went over the side of the road Thursday morning.

“We are reminding the public that the Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project is an active construction site. The road is not yet open to the public,” he stated.

“We know there is great anticipation and excitement around the project, but we are asking persons to please refrain from entering the project site, especially from driving on the roadway, if they are not authorised to do so,” Edwards appealed.

On Thursday morning, a woman was driving on the unfinished road in the Salt Spring area of Montego Bay when her car veered off the road and plunged several metres into a ravine.

Edwards said preliminary reports indicate that the driver was not seriously injured during the incident.

“We’ve received reports that the vehicle somehow drifted off the unfinished pavement. Thankfully, the reports that we’re receiving is that there were no major injuries, and the driver has been taken to hospital for routine check-up,” he said.

It has become the norm for some motorists to use sections of the unfinished road to avoid heavy traffic in other sections of the city. Others routinely use it to shorten their commute time.

Edwards has warned them all to desist from this risky practice.

“Any unauthorised vehicles should stay off the road until the project is completed… the convenience they would receive is not worth the risk,” he remarked.

Edwards said there will be increased vigilance going forward.

“We’re going to tighten the restrictions around the site to ensure that we minimise the number of unauthorised persons on the site,” he said.

In the area where the vehicle went over there are various road closure signs but these are routinely ignored by some motorists eager for the project to be completed.

According to Edwards, the contractors are making steady progress and are in line to meet the deadline.

“The project is moving smoothly; the project is on schedule to be finished in May 2026. Our signature piece of the project is the bridge over the Montego River… That is 95 per cent complete,” he said.

“The Montego Bay bypass itself is 65 per cent complete. Overall, the entire project is 55 per cent complete and on track to be finished in mid-2026, so it’s moving smoothly,” the NROCC official added.

He also pointed to progress made in the Catherine Hall/West Green area.

“Persons in the Catherine Hall area would notice that there are preparations taking place for the widening of that roadway… which would provide great relief for the traffic congestion in the area,” said Edwards.

“It’s part of the wider project for the Montego Bay Perimeter Road,” he added.

Trees which once dotted round-a-bouts along that section of roadway have been removed to accommodate dual carriageways on either side.