MONTEGO BAY, St James — It appears any hopes held by residents to have a collapsed section of the Spring Mount main road in St James repaired any time soon have been dashed.  The Government has revealed that a fix — which could cost US$200 to 300 million — would likely erode within five years due to unstable soil in the area.

Options now being explored include purchasing nearby land so the road can be realigned, or using the much longer route through Anchovy.

“The dilemma that we face at Spring Mount is that if we fix Spring Mount, it’s going to go again in five years because of the type of soil that is there and that the hillside consistently is moving,” stated minister without portfolio with responsibility for works Robert Nesta Morgan.

He was responding to queries from the Jamaica Observer during a water and road projects stakeholder engagement meeting held at Pier 1 in Montego Bay, St James, on Tuesday afternoon.

The massive breakaway near the Spring Mount Police Station, caused by Hurricane Melissa last year October, has reduced passage to a narrow footpath, cutting off vehicular traffic.

The situation has sparked frustration among residents and transport operators, who have staged roadblocks and protests to demand intervention. Member of Parliament

(MP) for St James South Nekeisha Burchell has also pressed Parliament and the National Works Agency (NWA) for a permanent fix as well as improvements to alternative routes.

Following initial assessments, the NWA previously informed residents that soil tests were being conducted to facilitate repairs. However, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness later said it would be more cost-effective to upgrade alternative routes instead.

On Tuesday, Morgan emphasised that the situation presents difficult questions regarding public expenditure.

“The question you have to ask yourself is, ‘What is a good spend for national resources?’ Do we continue fixing — because we fixed it already – do you continue fixing a hillside that is collapsing, or do you find another way for people to move around?” he asked.

The minister said the two main options currently on the table are: Upgrading a longer alternative route from Anchovy to Roehampton, or purchasing land above the breakaway to realign the road further up the hill.

Morgan acknowledged that relying on the Anchovy to Roehampton route would increase travel time for residents.

“That’s just the reality. A lot of people are uncomfortable with that because they’re saying,

‘Why don’t you give us back our road?’ Fixing the breakaway is going to cost US$200 to 300 million, or buying the land above it. But the reality is that the road is not a safe road to continue using at that point,” said the minister.

“We’ve had consultations with the prime minister, and we’re going to have to make a decision whether we’re going to buy the land above the road and buy the houses, or we’re going to continue with the rehabilitation of the Roehampton route. But it’s not finalised yet,” he added.