By Erica James-King, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THERE HAVE been no cost overruns on the $718 million dualisation of Howard Cooke Boulevard and Alice Eldemire Drive in Montego Bay.
The expansion work on that thoroughfare, which was co-ordinated by the Urban Development Corporation, has not exceeded its budget or the specified time frame for the construction exercise, Wednesday Business was informed. "I am advised that the project was completed within time and budget," confirmed Tubal Brown, Superintendent of Roads and Works for St. James, in a memorandum to the St. James Parish Council. "All work in relation to the contract on this road project has been satisfactorily completed."
In giving further details on the dualisation project, Claudette Corbett, acting secretary/manager for the Council, told the Gleaner that checks made by the Roads and Works Department revealed that "The contractor is now engaged in the necessary tidying of the project area, the manicuring of the green verges and the final road markings."
FOUR-LANE CARRIAGEWAY
The dualisation project has converted the two-lane roadway into a four-lane carriageway, from the site of the former Amphitheatre at Queen's Drive to the intersection at Alice Elde-mire Drive and Bogue Road. April this year was the deadline for the completion of the project which spans some 3.5 kilometres.
Winston Dear, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, said the expanded thoroughfare was, "a tremendous asset" to the resort city.
The chamber president said that not only has the dualisation of Howard Cooke/Alice Elde-mire Drive enhanced the city aesthetically, but it has also greatly alleviated major traffic congestion problems in the resort town.
"The traffic jams that used to be experienced on that roadway are no longer there. Motorists, including tour buses transporting tourists from the cruise ship pier, are no longer faced with long delays on that road," observed Mr. Dear in an interview with The Gleaner. "It's also a whole new look as if Montego Bay has been converted from a little town into a new city."
One rough patch that the chamber president has pointed to, is the fact that the signal lights at intersections along that roadway have not yet been integrated. He says as soon as that is done he expects an even smoother flow of traffic along Howard Cooke/Alice Eldemire Drive.
Both Mayor of Montego Bay Noel Donaldson, and Councillor Richard Solomon of the Spring Garden division, have underscored the need for the contractors to install traffic signs at intersections along that roadway as quickly as possible, to discourage traffic mishaps.
Mr. Solomon also highlighted other problems plaguing Howard Cooke Boulevard/Alice Elde-mire Drive. "Persons are removing the plants put in for the purpose of beautification, stray animals are eating down the plants," complained Mr. Solomon, while stressing the need for the 'plant thieves' to be dealt with.
