THE National Works Agency (NWA) is currently undertaking road expansion along Braeton Parkway in Portmore, St Catherine, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Stephen Shaw, manager of communication and customer services at the roadworks agency, said the work is being done to control the flow of traffic expected due to the $2.4-billion dualisation of the Naggo Head to Braeton Road and Hellshire main road in Portmore, which began in June of this year.

“As part of our traffic management plan, we’re doing some work on the Braeton Parkway road because it’s going to be crucial for the movement of traffic around the main construction zone, which is the road from Naggo Head towards Braeton. We are widening [the road], and we plan to do some further work at the Municipal Boulevard intersection as well to facilitate the movement in traffic in that space. The idea is that we’re adding capacity to Braeton Parkway so that persons have some ease in navigating this space,” Shaw told the Jamaica Observer.

He said the road expansion, which will not attract any additional cost, will run from the vicinity of Portmore Tax Office to the traffic light intersection at Hung Way Shopping Mall.

Shaw stated that there is no intention to close the Naggo Head to Braeton road at this time, but they will manage the traffic as they install drainage features.

“We have a box culvert that we are going to have to put in, and so it will mean less of the carriageway being available for the motoring public. We don’t envisage closing it off at this time. It doesn’t necessarily mean that that may not arise, but at this time we don’t contemplate closing it,” he said.

Mayor of Portmore Leon Thomas said the expansion is a welcome effort.

“It is heavily utilised by our motorists and also pedestrians because, as you can see, there is a lot of business development that is taking place along that corridor. And, with what is happening out by the Hellshire main road, you find that we have a serious traffic problem building every day because of the construction that is taking place. What we are trying to do is see if we can complete some part of the work before Christmas so that our residents can have a better flow going about their business,” Thomas told the Sunday Observer.

Until then, he urged residents to be safe on the roads for the holiday season.

“I just want to wish the residents of Portmore a peaceful and blessed Christmas, despite what they are going through with the trauma [from Hurricane Melissa]. We will continue to have the spirit to celebrate Christmas. I really want to say to them also that when they are going about their business, they must also be careful how they travel with their cash on them and how they leave their cars,” the mayor cautioned.

The 16-month dualisation of the Naggo Head to Braeton road is being implemented under the Government’s Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Programme. The CAPEX programme is a large-scale government plan to invest heavily in upgrading and expanding essential infrastructure such as roads and bridges in urban areas for long-term economic growth and improved quality of life.

The approximately three kilometres of thoroughfare that spans Naggo Head to the intersection of Braeton and Hellshire main road will be upgraded to a four-lane roadway with a raised median for safety, sidewalks, and traffic signals installed at key intersections to enhance traffic flow.

The project will also include the installation of ducts for fibre-optic cables under the National Broadband Initiative.