By John Myers Jr. Staff Reporter
A heavy duty tractor crane assisting workmen employed to Bouygues Travaux Publics, the developers of Highway 2000, in fitting material to a bridge under construction on the Portmore leg of Highway 2000 yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Staff Photographer
TREVOR JACKSON, managing director of TransJamaica Highway, said yesterday that the construction of the Portmore leg of the ambitious Highway 2000 project is on schedule and toll collections will begin as planned in January 2006.
In an interview with The Gleaner, Mr. Jackson said construction is proceeding at full pace as the developer, Bouygues of France, was recently issued with an environmental permit from the National Environment and Protection Agency (NEPA), to go ahead with construction.
SIX-LANE TOLL BRIDGE
The Portmore segment, which falls under phase 1A of Highway 2000, will involve the construction of a six-lane toll bridge across the Portmore Causeway and provides for upgrading work on the existing Dyke Road. This will connect with the newly-constructed Old Harbour bypass, joining Kingston with Clarendon and eventually expanding to connect with Williamsfield in Manchester under phase 1B. The total cost of phase 1, which covers a distance of 74 kilometres, is estimated to be US$390 million.
A total of US$91.4 million was spent on the construction of Highway 2000 up to December 2003, the Transport and Works Ministry said.
Phase 1A of the highway will become part of a multi-lane motorway connecting Kingston to Montego Bay, St. James and Ocho Rios, St. Ann and spanning some 230 kilometres. Highway 2000 was conceptualised in 1999 by Government as part of its 'Millennium Projects' to upgrade the island's road infrastructure and provide opportunities for growth.
