MINISTER OF Transport and Works Robert Pickersgill yesterday signed a $6.2 million contract for the demolition of the old Odeon Cinema, the site on which a multi-million dollar transportation centre will be constructed.
The centre at Half-Way Tree, St. Andrew, will be a temporary bus park for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC). The site has been acquired by the Government at cost of $201 million from the Palace Amusement Company.
The contract was awarded to Hydav Construction Company which was selected from a field of 10 contractors who submitted bids for the project. This is to be funded by the JUTC from internal revenues.
SIGNIFICANT INITIATIVE
The Minister noted that "the savings to be realised by this initiative will be so significant, that the $6 million being spent for the demolition) ...will be recovered in six months."
The property is to be fenced and secured to ensure the protection of the public during the demolition exercise. Provisions have been made for a two-storey building adjacent the cinema on the same property to be restored to house an information centre, smart card centre as well as convenience facilities for the JUTC.
The new transportation centre, which is part of the Ministry's plans to overhaul public transportation in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region, is to be constructed at a cost of US$100 million. The Minister said the date on which construction begins will be announced shortly.
The establishment of the temporary bus park, Mr. Pickersgill said, would result in significant savings for the JUTC. He said "buses that travel between Portmore and Half-Way Tree, and Spanish Town and Half-Way Tree, will now proceed to this area after the morning peak period instead of returning to the Portmore and Spanish Town depots respectively." Crew changes will also be facilitated there.
The demolition work is expected to be completed in six weeks and is subject to the approval of the JUTC's project manager who will authorise the payment of the final 10 per cent of the contract to be made in 30 days.
