RESIDENTS OF Portmore, St. Catherine, have agreed to an eight-point recommendation, which they plan to submit to Prime Minister P.J. Patterson when they meet with him to discuss the controversial toll road.
Mayor of Portmore, George Lee, told The Gleaner yesterday that the number one recommendation was for a significant upgrading of the Mandela Highway.
At a public forum held on Tuesday night in Portmore, Mayor Lee said the residents requested that the Mandela Highway be increased to a six-lane highway from its present four.
He explained that because of the construction of the underpass and bridge to link I-95 with the Mandela Highway, only one-lane traffic is now possible from the roundabout to Mandela Highway.
"The alternative proposal is that the road near the Mandela entrance called Cow Lane be upgraded and a new bridge be built linking Mandela to the Dyke Road," Mayor Lee said.
This, the Mayor noted, would allow for one-way traffic out of Portmore and a new road would become one-way into Portmore.
Other recommendations are:
The Portmore Municipality be provided with a portion of the revenue the Government will obtain from the toll road. This will be placed in a development fund to undertake developments in the municipality.
The bridge that spans the Rio Cobre river in the vicinity of the Mandela Highway at the entrance to Portmore be inspected and improved.
Marcus Garvey Drive to be significantly upgraded up to Hagley Park Road with a flyover to facilitate the proper flow of traffic
The Port Henderson road to be upgraded as a major exit point.
That there be an agreement that in the event of a major disaster, all six lanes of the highway be opened for exit from Portmore.
Mayor Lee said that the residents also suggested that the upgrading projects for Marcus Garvey Drive, Mandela Highway and Port Henderson road should be finalised before the opening of the toll road, which is scheduled for June 2006.
