WAKEFIELD, Trelawny — The National Works Agency (NWA) says no major disruptions are expected as it acquires land needed for a $292.2-million project being done in Trelawny under the Government’s Shared Prosperity Through Accelerated Improvement to Our Road Network (SPARK) Programme.

“No buildings will be included in the acquisition. Only fencing and other such structures that are in the right of way will be taken,” community relations officer for the NWA Western Office, Janel Ricketts, told the Jamaica Observer.

She said Member of Parliament for Trelawny Northern Tova Hamilton and members of the technical team, including China Harbour Engineering Company Limited and SJE Consultants Limited, gave residents that assurance during a meeting held at Wakefield Primary and Infant School last Friday.

A 3.3-kilometre stretch of road between Wakefield and Friendship in Trelawny will be widened in preparation for work to begin in earnest on June 8. Ricketts told the Observer that the work will see more than 2,000 metres of curved channel drains being built; the construction of 108 square metres of sidewalk — especially in the vicinity of the Wakefield Primary and Infant School; the installation of culverts; and the reshaping and asphalting of the road surface. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of this September.

“The roadway will also be raised by approximately two kilometres,” Ricketts added.

Second-term MP Hamilton, who has strongly agitated for repairs to that and other roads since being voted into office in September 2020, was relieved that the rehabilitation project is now in motion.

“I would dub it as a special SPARK project. This is decades’ worth of neglect. This is one of the roads, apart from the Falmouth to Springvale road, that I inherited that had notoriety,” she told the Observer.

“Residents have been very frustrated for quite some time — and rightly so — because it’s been a while now that they’ve been trying to get some attention to that particular roadway; but it is here now. Finally, the voices have been heard and there will be an answer,” Hamilton added.

Noting that motorists often driving faster than usual on newly rehabilitated roads, she urged them to exercise caution, avoid reckless behaviour, and maintain safe speeds both during and after the work is done. The MP also underscored the importance of road safety for all users.

“Just take your time and drive. It is a school road, so we have to be cognisant of the students, the children that will be on the road, and the elderly. I’m hoping that we don’t have any kind of issue at all,” she said.

Hamilton revealed that she is now awaiting a response to her request for funding to undertake repairs to the Bounty Hall-Wakefield roadway, which constitutes the third and final phase of the three-segment, 20-kilometre, Falmouth to Springvale Road Rehabilitation Project being spearheaded by the NWA.

Member of Parliament for Trelawny Northern Tova Hamilton addressing residents at Wakefield Primary and Infant School last Friday. Looking on are resident engineer at SJE Consultants Limited Ricardo Jackson (left) and Gavin Williams of China Harbour Engineering Company Limited..

A section of the Wakefield to Friendship roadway.