ST JAMES, Jamaica — The contract for the Montego Bay Perimeter Road, which is currently under construction, has increased by nearly US$80 million from US$274.5 million to US$354.25 million.

Minister with responsibility for Works, Robert Morgan, says the increased cost is to accommodate expanded scope and enhanced engineering requirements.

He spoke to the issue on Wednesday during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.

“Today, the project stands at approximately 80 per cent completion, with a workforce of 525 persons, 87 per cent of whom are Jamaican,” Morgan said.

“What is being built in Montego Bay is not merely another road. It is an integrated transportation system designed to move through-traffic away from the urban core, reduce congestion, improve travel reliability, strengthen road safety, and unlock new development opportunities across the western region,” Morgan continued.

“At the heart of the project is the 15-kilometre Montego Bay Bypass which will divert traffic away from the city centre and improve movement across the region,” he added.

The works minister also noted that the perimeter road is complemented by the Long Hill Bypass, a 10.5-kilometre corridor upgraded from its original two-lane concept to a four-lane facility with median barriers.

“That decision reflects the very principle of building stronger by design: not merely designing for today’s traffic, but anticipating tomorrow’s demand,” Morgan noted.

He also pointed out that within the city itself, major upgrades are progressing along West Green Avenue, where modern intersections, sidewalks, drainage infrastructure, and traffic management systems are being incorporated. At Barnett Street, road expansion works and the construction of a new two-lane bridge over the Montego River will address a long-standing bottleneck in a critical commercial area.