MONTEGO BAY, St James — An old bedhead and the top of a broken table used to cobble together a crude guard rail serve as warning that there is danger on the road between John’s Hall and Spring Mount in southern St James. One section appears on the verge of collapse, much like a nearby house whose foundation was eroded by Hurricane Melissa, last October, and commuters are worried.

“I’m afraid but mi just have to drive on it, can’t do better,” a shopkeeper who identified herself as Sancia told the
Jamaica Observer Tuesday.

“If little rain fall it gone, because underneath it, it’s deteriorating,” she explained.

The gaping cavern in a section of the Spring Mount Road is just a few kilometres up the hill, impassable as residents eagerly await word from the Government on when it will be repaired. Now, they have added the danger at John’s Hall to their list of urgent issues.

When contacted, community relations officer for the National Works Agency (NWA), Western Region, Janel Ricketts said they are aware of this latest development at John’s Hall. Though none were seen by the Observer, she said signs are in place to help guide motorists.

A truck navigates the single lane that is left in one section of the road at John’s Hall, St James, which is showing signs of deterioration.

“This too, like Spring Mount, is on the radar of the NWA but in terms of an update, I don’t have that right now,” she told the Observer.

For shopkeeper Sancia and others who use the road, help cannot come soon enough as the alternative route is longer and more costly. What was once a straight route from John’s Hall to Montego Bay has now become a meandering journey to Sunderland, around Blackshop, and through Patosi.

“And the hottest part is we dropping out right at the square down there and we don’t reach Montego Bay as yet. It’s going to be more money, more gas, more everything,” Sancia lamented.

She also highlighted challenges being faced by students in that area of the community.

This house on the opposite side of the road that has broken away is facing imminent collapse.

“Children that live here now that have to go Maldon are paying double or triple fare because they have to take taxi from here go to Montego Bay and a next taxi go and vice versa,” Sancia explained.

“It bad for everybody: Parents, children, business owners,” she added.

A roadside vendor in John’s Hall who chose not to provide his name spoke of the downturn in business he has seen as commuters from southern St James have had to find new routes.

“It rough because the road block up that side so people can’t come down. They would stop and buy drinks, food stuff, shop stuff; that’s not happening again,” he said.

He also pointed to the impact it has had on other areas of life that used to generate income, such as sporting competitions.

“Football was a thing where the different communities partake in and now them can’t come,” he said.

“Spring Mount people a bawl now because nobody can’t come down. We just want to see the road fix, the two place; because without it we don’t have any real livelihood, nobody can’t come, nobody can’t go,” he said.

A motorist who gave his name as Richard said travelling to the area has been a financial challenge and, like area residents, he is also worried about the increasing deterioration at John’s Hall.

“With this breakaway now, we would have to find a next way to go in town, it’s really pressuring. I hope they do something fast, whether it’s construction to start the new road or they find something better that we can travel on. But do something better,” Richard appealed.

A section of road in John’s Hall, St James.