George Henry, Gleaner Writer
Members of the Jamaica Defence Force rescue residents near May Pen, Clarendon, whose homes were flooded yesterday. - JDF PHOTO
SPALDINGS, Clarendon:
A SECTION of the Christiana to Spaldings main road in Manchester collapsed as Hurricane Wilma lashed the island with heavy, continual rain yesterday.
The collapse took place in an area known as Bamboo, just over 120 metres above the Percy Junor Hospital.
When The Gleaner visited the area early yesterday, the road was reduced to single-lane traffic and the damaged section of the thoroughfare was sunken about 20 inches. The area was secured with security tape.
This is the second time in recent months that the same section of roadway has collapsed. The first occurred during Hurricane Dennis' heavy rains in July. At that time, the problem was temporarily corrected when the National Works Agency (NWA) dumped marl to raise the fallen section.
In the meantime, the NWA and the Clarendon Parish Council have been called on to clear landslides that have cut off a number of thoroughfares in the North West Clarendon constituency. These include the Corn Hill to Smithville, Dykes Hill to Coffee Piece, Ritches to Coffee Piece, Orange Hill to Long Look to Main Ridge roads.
EFFORTS TO CLEAR ROADS
Member of Parliament Richard Azan said efforts were being made to have the blocked roads cleared, but persistent showers have slowed operations.
The NWA said yesterday that contractors had been mobilised to carry out clearing activities today. The agency also noted that the Mocho to Frankfield and Thompson Town to Smithville roads, which were blocked since Monday night, were being cleared up to 2:00 p.m. yesterday.
