Major upgrades for St Ann roadway

Major upgrades are set for the Drax Hall to Mammee Bay corridor in St Ann, as the Government works to ease traffic congestion and strengthen one of Jamaica's fastest-growing commercial hubs.

Addressing the St Ann Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet at the Cardiff Hotel and Spa in Runaway Bay on Sunday, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, noted that the roadway has grown into a major hub of economic activity but is now straining under the weight of its own success. He further highlighted that what was once a vital coastal route for commerce has now become a bottleneck, draining businesses of valuable time and money each day.

"We have a special plan already commissioned as it relates to Drax Hall and Mammee Bay," Holness said. He outlined that feasibility studies are under way for a major extension of the North-South Highway, branching from a new grade-separated interchange near Mammee Bay and extending westward to Discovery Bay in St Ann, and eastward to Tower Isle in St Mary. Holness explained that the eastern leg will serve as a bypass for Ocho Rios, diverting traffic away from the congested town centre and reducing journey times along the north coast.

Holness indicated that once the highway extension reaches an advanced stage, the Government will move to upgrade and dualise sections of the existing North Coast Highway from Montego Bay to Drax Hall. He explained that under the plan, the Drax Hall roadway will be transformed into a boulevard, designed to improve traffic flow while providing easier access to businesses and developments along the corridor.