Dear Editor,

Still faced with the treacherous conditions associated with using the alternative road to their community for months, the residents of Spring Village continue to suffer as they await, with bated breath, the promised bridge from Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

The Spring Village residents have been forced to use an alternative road to access their community after the National Works Agency closed the main bridge which is used to access their community. The prime minister, in his budget presentation in Parliament, promised that there will be attention given to the Spring Village bridge by mid-year.

While this sounds like good news, the Spring Village residents will have no vehicles to drive on that promised bridge if and when it is procured. The state of the alternative route through the community of Nightingale Grove has resulted in the loss of car parts. It is as if a scrap metal thief has ravaged the vehicles. Parts that feel the pressures are tyres, rims, tie rod ends, front struts, control arms, shocks, bearings, and the general front end.

It is ironic that during the country's drought the farming community of Spring Village is praying that Jesus would hold the rain until the bridge is fixed. There was a little sprinkle of rain recently which contributed to further deterioration of the road. One driver had to be rescued by chickens on their way to the Jamaica Broilers Factory to become meat. The driver, while trying to avoid a pothole, found himself stuck in a ditch and was pulled to safety by a truck full of chickens that was navigating the same obstacle course.

While the residents await their promised bridge, the alternative road needs at least remedial attention. In the interim, the residents of Spring Village and Nightingale Grove are asking the authorities to lay marl and roll the road to eliminate the potholes and oil the surface to keep down the dust.

The alternative route continues to be costly for asthma patients, public commuters, motorist, taxi operators, students, parents — basically everyone in the community. A little marl and black oil work is the appetiser the Spring Village residents are asking for as they await the the main course of the new bridge.

Respectfully, the residents ask, Mr Prime Minister, as the "radam" of the hurricane season is near.

Hezekan Bolton

h_e_z_e@hotmail.com