WITH 110 roads already paved and another 225 in the process of being upgraded, minister without portfolio responsible for works Robert Morgan says the Government is on schedule to complete its Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) programme by 2028, as planned.

Addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday, Morgan highlighted that the remaining works, inclusive of both main and community roads, are expected to be completed within three years based on the Government’s contractual obligation to execute the SPARK programme before its expiration in the last quarter of 2028.

He added that 10 work orders have so far been undertaken by SPARK, with the initiative expected to deliver 403 roads, including 37 main roads across 11 parishes.

“For the local and community roads, we have spent so far a total of $11.22 billion, and this is from March last year up to today,” said Morgan as he pointed out that the main road component is to start this month, with an initial budget of $14 billion.

He noted, however, that the figure is expected to rise, as it did not yet include some developments slated for the initiative, including Dunrobin Avenue and Sir Florizel Glasspole Highway in St Andrew.

“There’s an additional $11 billion to the $14 [billion], and that is Harbour View to Windward Road/Mountain View, which is $900 million. And then Washington Boulevard, Six Miles to Molynes Road, including an overpass at Molynes Road, which is $4 billion. [Then the] Dunrobin Avenue extension from Constant Spring to East Kings House, including an overpass, that is [valued at] $6.8 billion, for a total of $11.7 billion,” he explained.

The proposed roll-out for main roads is scheduled to begin with eight of the 37 outlined. By May 2027, all 37 main roads are expected to have commenced.

“When I say start, I don’t mean necessarily excavation, but start includes design and pre-infrastructure work, such as soil testing and so on,” clarified the minister.

Among the major works under the programme, Morgan pointed to Portmore, where significant construction will occur to correct flaws found in the Port Henderson road after its completion some years ago.

“Persons are asking me, why are we doing over Port Henderson Road? It wasn’t done properly in the first place. It was done about four years ago, but the road is sinking, and it wasn’t done properly. I have to admit that though I was not there at the time. We have to do it properly, because it doesn’t make sense to be here doing Naggo Head to Hellshire and we are doing all of these roads in Portmore, and you have this big sore thumb in the middle of it…So we are going to be doing a full restoration of Port Henderson Road,” said the works minister.

Morgan also listed significant work planned for the parishes of Hanover and Westmoreland, after several complaints about the state of roads, and the negative impact it has on tourism.

In the Corporate Area, Morgan said that works were being planned carefully to avoid hindering essential services and traffic flow.

“We’re supposed to do Tom Redcam, but we are being very cautious with that, because if you shut down Arthur Wint, Tom Redcam, and Camp Road at the same time, while shutting down Oxford Road on the other side…we may have chaos. And the Prime Minister [Dr Andrew Holness] keeps saying to me, and I keep saying to NWA (National Works Agency), if anything should happen and a child is delayed going to the Bustamante Hospital by one minute by a tractor, it won’t be the tractor that takes the blame, it will be the minister of works. So we’re being very cautious,” said Morgan.

Describing SPARK as one of the most profound in the country’s history, Morgan told the media briefing that he was proud of the initiative, and is committed to delivering structurally sound and safe roads.

“This represents the most significant investment in our country’s infrastructure cumulatively since our independence. We’ve never built 55 bridges at one time before. We’ve never spent $45 billion on a concentrated road infrastructure programme. And coupled with the other interventions that we’re making with the road programme and our regular routine maintenance, no other Administration has invested so much in our road infrastructure,” he said.