MINISTER with responsibility for works Robert Morgan has boasted that he is the first person holding the portfolio to be undertaking the repair/construction of 55 bridges.

Morgan made the boast on Wednesday during his contribution to the sectoral debate in the House of Representatives. He said this Administration had the “first minister, by extension, the first prime minister [Dr Andrew Holness, by extension the first Government” to undertake such an ambitious task.

“If roads connect communities, bridges make those connections possible. A road may take you most of the way, but where there is a river, a gully, a valley, or a break in the terrain, it is the bridge that completes the journey,” said Morgan.

“That is why bridge infrastructure is not a secondary concern. It is central to national connectivity, public safety, disaster resilience, and economic life,” he added.

Morgan told the Parliament that Jamaica has many bridges that have served for decades. But he noted that age, heavier traffic, severe weather, river action, and deferred maintenance have placed increasing pressure on several structures across the island.

“That is why the Government has placed major emphasis on strengthening and modernising the national bridge network,” he said, adding that “I am pleased to report that the Accelerated Bridge Programme, which will deliver 55 bridges across Jamaica, has advanced substantially”.

Morgan explained that the programme is designed to improve connectivity and support sustainable economic and social growth through safe, durable, high-quality, climate-resistant infrastructure. He highlighted that the updated programme also accommodates seven emergency bridges, allowing the Government to respond to urgent connectivity needs while advancing the wider national bridge replacement programme.

Morgan also shared that the updated technical offer has been submitted, with negotiations and final approvals targeted over the coming weeks.

“That shows the programme is moving from policy approval and technical development into financing and execution,” the minister said while noting that each bridge requires design work, environmental and social due diligence, geotechnical assessment, fabrication, shipping, installation, traffic management, and site-specific construction.

“Speed matters, but so does safety. Urgency matters, but so does engineering discipline,” he remarked, while stressing that the programme is not only about replacing old structures but also about building greater resilience into the road network.

As such, he said bridges must be designed to withstand stronger floods, heavier flows, changing rainfall patterns, and the more frequent extreme weather events that now define our climate reality.

He told Parliament that Hurricane Melissa was a reminder that weak links in the road network can quickly become points of isolation. “When a bridge is compromised, the road on either side loses its full value. That is why bridge resilience is road resilience,” he stated.

“And that is why the Accelerated Bridge Programme is being developed not simply as a construction programme, but [also] as a national connectivity and resilience programme”.

Morgan pointed to the importance of the ongoing works with the long-awaited reopening of the Troy Bridge on June 5 which he noted restored a vital connection for communities between Manchester and Trelawny. He also pointed to the Spring Village Bridge in St Catherine which was completed and officially opened on June 12. He said this demonstrated the value of effective collaboration between Government and private sector partners.

The minister said work continues on the Craigmill Bridge in Portland, another important structure that he said will improve safety and access for the communities it serves.