Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, says within three weeks the Gordon Town alternative main road (Savage Pen), in St Andrew East Rural, will be completed.

Sections of the Gordon Town Main Road collapsed following severe weather conditions in November. It has been extremely challenging for persons from the surrounding communities to go about their regular business as the road had to be closed to all forms of traffic.

Mr Holness toured the location, on Friday, along with Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation,  Everald Warmington, Member of Parliament for the area, Juliet Holness, and senior officials from the National Works Agency (NWA).

           The Prime Minister pointed out that work is being undertaken at a cost of $60 million on the Savage Pen road, and that work will be carried out on the main road for $200 million.

          Mr Holness said repairing the damage is the “cheapest option available, and the quickest option” but other long term solutions will have to be considered after the residents get back their road.

“It is a major challenge, but the Government has an obligation to make sure that people can get home safely, conduct their business safely, and with convenience. We ask the citizens to bear with us. In three weeks, the people who are now disconnected by virtue of the breakaway should be able to get home in greater convenience and safety,” the Prime Minister said. 

He pointed out that the entire roadway in the area is under constant threat from heavy rains and other environmental conditions, and the long term solution for the communities rests on many crucial decisions and adherence to proper planning.

“The long term would have to be how we put in place a development plan to encourage persons who are living in the area to build with greater precaution, to choose better areas to build, and to make the decision whether or not these are areas that people should live in,” Mr Holness said.