RESIDENTS IN sections of Portmore, St. Catherine have expressed disgust with what they say are persistent problems with dust and noise emanating from the construction of the Government's road network, Highway 2000.
At least one resident has laid claim that the construction has resulted in damage to his house.
"I have a lot of problem with my house, a lot of dust in there (and) the house has a lot of cracks in it. I agree it was built on dump land, (but) I am living there 24 years now and it never had so many cracks," complained a resident of Portsmouth.
The resident lamented that the situation was reported to the developer, Bouygues Travaux Publics, and a team visited his house. He said the team, after inspecting his house, declared that the cracks were not a result of the highway's construction. "Dem come there, dem tek pictures and seh dat is old cracks," the elderly gentleman said.
Lloyd Mullings, a resident of Waterford was adamant that the dust nuisance was a result of the "marl and the sand and the cement dat dem mixing" over by the nearby storage site located along the Dyke Road, behind the community. The 68-year-old resident, who was trying to sweep the dust off his verandah and furniture, explained that because of the unhealthy environment, he has had to keep his grandson, who is suffering from a cold, inside the house.
When The Gleaner visited the community yesterday, residents could be seen shielding their faces from the dust-filled air carried by the strong afternoon wind, while the sounds of truck and tractor engines rumbled in the background.
"Mi just clean de (eye) glass a while ago, but mi can't see anything out of it de little time mi go out to the gate to get rid of some of the trash (in the front yard)," Mr. Mullings said as he emphasised the severity of the problem.
To further compound the residents' woes, Mr. Mullings added that the noise from the trucks and heavy duty machinery was almost deafening.
"The noise not even bad today, it is worst especially when you want to hear news or something. I don't hear the news sometimes - when three and four of the tipper trucks pass, the constant revving of the turbine engines shake every single thing inside of de house," he explained.
Dr. Wayne Reid, managing director of the National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC), in response to the complaints, said "we are trying to ensure that it is reduced to the minimum in terms of covering of the trucks and the wetting of the roadway on a regular basis."
He noted that the contractors have been "going into Portsmouth and have been recording the existing situation in the houses which are close to the haul road at present" and will continue the exercise until the problem is corrected.
