KINGSTON, Jamaica — The construction phase for the new Port Antonio Bypass in Portland is set to commence in the next eight weeks.

The Port Antonio Bypass, valued at US$81 million, is being done under the contract for the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP).

Under the contract for the construction of this 7.5-kilometre road, contractors, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Limited, is charged with designing and building the corridor. The road will stretch from Turtle Crawl Harbour in the east of Port Antonio to the community of Norwich in the west.

Manager of Communication and Customer Services at the National Works Agency (NWA), Stephen Shaw, says that the design phase for the project is nearing completion. CHEC has, however, started some clearance activities on government-owned land, which is considered as part of the construction phase.

Shaw said that some 292 parcels of land will have to be acquired in part or completely for the construction of the road. The road will be built to the south of Port Antonio and will have three access points into the commercial district of the parish capital.

Other features of the road will include the construction of four driving lanes which will be divided by a concrete median; drainage improvement works; construction of at least one bridge; installation of traffic lights and the laying of fibre optic ducts. The road is expected to be completed in 18 months.

According to Shaw, plans for the construction of a bypass for Port Antonio is being executed in two phases. The second phase of the project will see the construction of an 11-kilometre stretch from Turtle Crawl Harbour to Boston Bay.

In the meantime, he said the NWA and the National Land Agency (NLA) are working closely to ensure that affected persons in Port Antonio are suitably engaged. Notices have been served on interested parties and discussions are underway in respect of compensation for land take.

Shaw added that a list of affected parcels has been posted at the post office in Port Antonio, noting that the information is also available on the NWA’s website.

Persons are being advised to contact the NWA or the NLA with any questions regarding the land acquisition for the construction of the road.