MONTEGO BAY, St James — Two contracts valued at $51 million were signed for road infrastructure development in Montego Bay last Thursday.

Following the regular monthly meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation, mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon and contractor, Cosmore Thompson of FSC Construction Limited, inked the deal for the rehabilitation of the Harbour Circle roadway and adding paved stones to sidewalks of several streets in the city centre.

“One of the projects, the one at Harbour Circle, is to the tune of $23 million, and the other, which is the brick section in the downtown section of Montego Bay, that is to the tune of $28 million,” Vernon revealed.

“Both projects will commence just about the same period in August, and run for the ensuing months until they are completed,” he added.

The Harbour Circle project will rehabilitate the stretch of road from Howard Cooke Boulevard to Pier One.

Improvements to the city’s sidewalks is a continuation of work that began two years ago within the heart of the city, particularly along St James Street.

“We’re also going to complete the redevelopment of the Lawrence Lane section and Long Lane, putting in the pavers — just as we have at the Lower Market Street section,” said Vernon.

The work being done, he explained, falls under the city’s Urban Development Programme and the MoBay STEP UP initiative.

“Within it, there’s a component for infrastructural development and we continue that mission in two forms this afternoon,” added Vernon.

The mayor explained that these and other initiatives are geared towards beautification of downtown Montego Bay.

“As you may also observe, we are putting in the place makers that some persons more likely refer to as murals,” he added.

Since last year, TUI Care Foundation, Kingston Creative, Doctor’s Cave Bathing Club, and other contributors have been working on the installation of murals at different points in the city. Three have been installed so far.

“We have completed the one that is affixed to the wall at Henderson Bookstore, and we have a few more to come and a few more installed,” Vernon said.

“This is the overall approach for the St James Municipal Corporation in the beautification and development of Montego Bay,” he added.