Becki Patterson, Business Writer

NWA traffic studies show that Waterloo Road and Constant Spring Road into Half- Way Tree shoulder 90 per cent of the traffic that moves north to south in Kingston - Shaw

The National Works Agency (NWA) is to construct a raised bridge at Upper Waterloo Road in Kingston, in an attempt to solve the flooding problem that occurs there during sustained rains and big storms.

The current structure, located close to the Shell gas station, and under which the expansive drain runs, is to be raised on to stilts so that flood waters and debris can more easily traverse it.

The rails at the bridge are eroded and bent by the last storms.

The NWA said the project falls within the US$45 million (J$3.2 billion) project to construct or improve 11 bridges across the island, a job contracted to Canadian firm RA Murray.

The Waterloo project will cost US$1.9 million (J$137 million), said NWA spokesman Stephen Shaw.

Alignment

Construction is scheduled for the first quarter of 2009, and is to last no more than six months, he said.

The alignment will take the existing course, with the bridge expected to run from the intersection with Church Road and to end at the gas station.

The NWA plans first to wrap up "the bulk of work on the other 10, thereby freeing up resources as much as possible for starting the Waterloo Road bridge, as this one needs to be completed in the shortest possible time", said Shaw.

The road is one of the more popular routes for traffic coming from Manor Park, Norbrook, Stony Hill, and other outreaches of St Andrew.

During rains, motorists who generally traverse upper Waterloo tend to divert to Constant Spring Road, adding to the long traffic lines there.

The agency is seeking to minimise construction time on the bridge as a mitigation measure.

Shaw said NWA traffic studies show that Waterloo Road and Constant Spring Road into Half- Way Tree shoulder 90 per cent of the traffic that moves north to south in Kingston.

Optimum planning

"Traffic-management plans, therefore, must be optimum for the bridge construction on Waterloo Road," said the NWA communications manager.

The US$45 million bridge programme was started 11 months ago in August 2007.

It is part funded by the Caribbean Development Bank with US$15 million, while the Government of Jamaica has put up the other US$30 million.

The programme is to be completed in 2009.

Shaw said discussions would be held with commercial and other interests ahead of construction.

Businesses in the area include MegaMart, the gas station, and Pepper's nightclub, while the area is also ringed by several residential communities, including Arnette Crescent.

Bridge programme

The 11 bridges are located at:

Queen's River, Hanover

Black River, Portland

Martha Brae, Trelawny

Milk River, Clarendon

Angels River, Clarendon

Johnson's River, St Thomas

Seven Rivers, St James

Bog Walk, St Catherine

Worthington Park, St Catherine

Gordon Town, St Andrew

Upper Waterloo Road, St Andrew.

We regret the error.