NWA steps up road and drainage upgrades in St Catherine as hurricane season looms
WITH the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season beginning on June 1, the Government is pushing to complete significant drainage work on several roads in St Catherine which have been flooded in the past.
Approximately $1.45 billion is being spent to rehabilitate 28 roadways across the parish, 12 of which are now receiving attention.
The work is being done through the multi-billion-dollar Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to Our Road Network (SPARK) programme.
Among the areas being targeted are Jones Avenue (Spanish Town), Cumberland Road (Portmore), and Nugent Street (Buck Town). These locations have well-documented issues of clogged drains often leading to flooded streets or scoured road surfaces during rainy months.
The National Works Agency (NWA), which is managing the SPARK programme, has underscored that it is being rolled out in tranches, with four already approved for work across Jamaica.
In St Catherine, 13 roads in Spanish Town are being targeted, eight in Portmore, four in Old Harbour, two in Ewarton, and one corridor in Troja, with the NWA reporting that they were prioritised based on road condition assessments, flood risk, traffic density, and community vulnerability.
In the meantime, minister with responsible for works Robert Morgan has reiterated that the SPARK project is designed to meet the demands of a changing climate.
“We are not just laying asphalt — we are designing infrastructure that can stand up to Jamaica’s climate. SPARK is about building systems that protect lives, improve access, and support national development. Improved road conditions reduce travel time, support local commerce, and improve emergency response — especially during storm season,” said Morgan.
He added that the Government aims to shift from reactive emergency spending to long-term mitigation and resilience planning by integrating new drainage infrastructure into roadworks.
“As climate change continues to intensify weather patterns the SPARK programme represents a major step in Jamaica’s push to modernise infrastructure, protect communities, and future-proof the nation’s development,” Morgan declared.
