PORTLAND, Jamaica — The National Works Agency (NWA) is advising motorists to proceed with extreme caution along a number of roadways in St Catherine, St Ann, Portland and St Mary that were affected by weekend rains, as it continues its efforts to clear these corridors of debris following heavy rains.

The rains, associated with a cold front influencing weather conditions across Jamaica, rendered several communities inaccessible to vehicular traffic or reduced some corridors to single lane.

Stephen Shaw, manager of communication and customer services at NWA, said teams deployed to some of the affected areas are being challenged as it is still raining in a number of locations and material from saturated embankments continue to impact the roadways.

Shaw urged motorists to be on the lookout for falling material along the Lime Hall main road in St Ann; the Junction Road in St Mary and the Natural Bridge to Pear Tree Grove roadway at an area known as Seafield in St Catherine.

“These roadways are being constantly impacted by land slippages or are severely scoured in sections,” added Shaw.

NWA added that motorists travelling along the Junction Road must approach the area in the vicinity of Georgia or Chovey with caution as a depression at the location has worsened and motorists might find it difficult manoeuvring the area.

“Teams have however managed to clear all but two roadways which were blocked by landslides in the parish of Portland. The roads from Rio Grande to Cuffies Head and Moore Town to Cornwall Barracks are still not accessible to vehicular traffic.

“All roadways which were impacted in the parish of St Catherine have been reopened to at least single lane traffic,” said the NWA.