ST MARY, Jamaica (AFP) — The National Works Agency (NWA) is advising that a section of the Broadgate main road, St Mary, is now seriously compromised as a pipe culvert has been burnt from beneath the road embankment, leading to its partial collapse.

Manager of Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw, said as a result, the northbound lane, heading from the direction of Broadgate, is now closed to vehicular traffic.

All traffic is now being routed onto the northbound carriageway.

Shaw noted that the NWA has cordoned off the affected area, but will be taking additional steps to ensure that the motoring public can use the road safely.

He added that plans are also being made to have emergency work done to replace the entire length of the culvert that has been damaged.

The manager shared that the situation again highlights the need for people to exercise care in setting fires in sensitive locations, including where culvert pipes are located.

He added that the practice is not only dangerous to farmland and animals, but, as seen in this situation, puts the lives of unsuspecting motorists at risk.

Individuals are being advised to exercise extreme caution at this time when travelling along the Broadgate main road, especially as it has been raining in that section of St Mary.