Residents say that the Beecher Town road has been in need of repairs for decades.

What's not working?

The Beecher Town thoroughfare in St. Ann is a catastrophe - a yawning monster of road scars and potholes. Residents say the roadway has been in its deplorable state for years, and they are now crying foul on the relevant authority for neglecting its responsibility.

Synopsis of situation:

In the words of Trevor Combs, Beecher Town resident of 47 years, the section of the road he lives adjacent to has been neglected since the 1980s. Combs noted that the roadway got worse over time under the double blow of heavy rains and increased vehicular traffic in the area.

Patrick Graham, another resident, echoed similar sentiments.

"I don't know who is the Member of Parliament. I don't even know the councillor. But one thing I know for sure, and that is that the road terrible," he exclaimed. Graham argues that with each passing day the potholes multiply and deepen, forming an intricate, scarred web across the surface.

Who's responsible?

The National Works Agency (NWA).

What's the status?

Vincent Small, the NWA's parish manager for St. Ann, told our news team that the road falls within the purview of his agency. Small pointed out that work was done on sections of the thoroughfare in 2006.

When asked about plans to revisit the area, Small referred us to NWA communications technocrats Stephen Shaw or Colin Morrison.

Several attempts to contact both men were unsuccessful.

A motorist crawls along the Beecher Town road in St. Ann as during a downpour. - Photos by Marlon Vickerman

Conclusion:

Though Small claims the agency carried out road repairs on the Beecher Town main road last year, even the untrained eye could see that the work must have been superficial - the usual road-patching routine to save face.

But the potholes are still large and in charge and there are areas where asphalt has been totally eroded.

If you are going to repair the roads; do it right! Stop wasting taxpayers' money with the perennial patching that will end up costing much more in the long run than if the roads are fixed properly.

The NWA and parish councils need to revisit their strategy of effecting road repairs because this current scheme of patching has proved futile and costly.

The long and short of the issue is this: It is good to hear that the NWA visited the area last year, but it needs to properly complete the job it started. Here is a second chance to make that happen. The residents are waiting - and we will be watching.

- Marlon Vickerman,

Gleaner Writer