Anticipation high for fixing of Gordon Town breakaway

Persons who use the Gordon Town Road in St Andrew are hoping that the work being undertaken to repair a breakaway in the vicinity of Stand Up Hill will be able to withstand adverse weather conditions.

The section of the roadway, which is located along the Papine to Gordon Town corridor, broke away following incessant rainfall last November. The road connects several Gordon Town communities to the Corporate Area. Work is slated to be completed in August.

Howard Williams, 65, is hoping that the construction will properly address the issues that caused the massive breakaway.

"Mi understand say these things can happen and happen everywhere in the world, but I am just hoping that the new roadway is stronger and no likkle three weeks of rainfall can mash it up so easily again," he said.

A contract valued at $187 million has been awarded for repairs at the site of the breakaway.

The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season begins tomorrow and runs through to November 30. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in the USA are predicting another above-normal season. The experts believe that 13 to 20 named storms will develop, with six to 10 becoming hurricanes. However, they do not anticipate the historic level of storm activity seen in 2020.

Users of the Gordon Town Road are mindful of the impact that an active hurricane season could have on their lives and livelihoods. They are hoping that the construction works will not be impacted by adverse weather conditions.

Sheryl Gaynor, a resident whose daily activities require her to travel along the main thoroughfare, said she is waiting for the roadwork to be completed.

"My entire business get mash up because of this. I have to buy goods to sell back, and since this happen mi cyah move properly. A hundreds of thousands of dollars mi lose since last year," she said.

NARROW ROADWAY

In the meantime, bike taxi operators have been cashing in on the opportunity presented by the disaster. Despite the opening up of an alternative route via Savage Pen, many persons are opting to either walk along the narrow roadway that now remains or be transported on motorcycles.

Anthony Brown, 23, who is one of bike taxi operators in the area, said previously unemployed men are now earning a living providing transportation for persons.

"It started out as something free because a likkle bit a people did a brave the area and walk pass, but when more people start come out wi start charge dem," he told THE STAR.

"Sometimes a rider will mek all 40 trips fi di day, sometimes more like on the weekends when more people a travel back and forth. So yuh know seh a 'bout $5,000 a man can mek a daytime."

Brown added that persons don't mind paying the fee, despite travelling a short distance.

"From di entrance of the hill to weh di roadworks a gwan a 'bout 100 to 150 metres, but di people dem no mind paying it 'cause it is not easy to walk up the hill, especially wid the dust and luggage ina yuh hands," he said.

"Yuh have some people who nuh bother drive dem cars, because yuh affi drive all the way round from Gordon Town through Savage Pen to get into Papine."