Dear Editor, The condition in which some roads are being left after work is carried out by the National Water Commission (NWC) is cause for concern and frustration.

Across communities, residents have become accustomed to seeing roads dug up to facilitate water and sewerage works, only to find that the excavated areas remain unfinished for weeks or, in some cases, months.

What may begin as necessary infrastructure work quickly becomes a major inconvenience and a serious safety concern for motorists, pedestrians, and residents.

The problem is not the fact that the NWC needs to carry out repairs or install and maintain its infrastructure.

We understand that such work is necessary.

The problem is what happens after the digging is completed.

Massive ditches are sometimes left along roads without being properly restored, creating dangerous conditions for everyone who has to use these thoroughfares.

For motorists, navigating around these excavations can be extremely difficult, particularly at night or during heavy rainfall.

Drivers are forced to swerve into the path of oncoming traffic or drive over uneven surfaces to avoid deep trenches and potholes.

Motorcyclists and cyclists face an even greater risk, as an unexpected ditch or poorly marked excavation could result in a serious accident.

Pedestrians are also affected.

Where roads and sidewalks are dug up, people may be forced to walk along the roadway or find alternative routes.

For the elderly, children, and people with disabilities, this can be particularly dangerous.

There is also the question of damage to vehicles.

Driving repeatedly over rough, unfinished sections of road can damage tyres, rims, suspension systems, and other components.

For the average Jamaican already struggling with the high cost of living, having to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for vehicle repairs because of poorly restored roads is no small matter.

What is especially frustrating is the apparent lack of urgency once the initial work has been completed.

Residents can see workers arrive, dig up the road, and carry out the necessary repairs, but then the area is left in an unfinished state for an extended period.

Why is there not a clear deadline for restoring roads once the utility work has been completed? The NWC and the relevant authorities need to establish stronger accountability for road restoration.

If a road must be excavated, there should be a clear process for securing the area, providing adequate warning signs and barriers, completing the work promptly, and restoring the roadway to an acceptable standard.

Residents should also be given information about how long the work is expected to take and when the road will be restored.

Communication would go a long way towards reducing frustration.

Jamaica cannot continue to invest in infrastructure while allowing existing roads to deteriorate because of unfinished utility works.

Water and sewerage infrastructure is important, but so are the roads that allow people to get to work, school, businesses, hospitals, and their homes safely.

I, therefore, urge the NWC and the relevant government agencies to take a closer look at this issue.

Digging up a road may be necessary, but leaving residents to navigate massive ditches for months should not be accepted as normal.

Dale Mitchell

mitchell1000@gmail.com