Warmington tackles Morgan on CAPEX projects
Published:Saturday | March 8, 2025 | 12:06 AM
Member of Parliament (MP) for St Catherine South West, Everald Warmington, on Thursday made a strong case for the widening of the bridge on Washington Boulevard, in the vicinity of Six Miles, St Andrew - the access road from Mandela Highway to Portmore. He also advocated for the widening of the Sandy Gully bridge to allow for a smooth flow of traffic onto Mandela Highway.
Asking questions about the Government’s Special CAPEX programme during a meeting of Parliament’s Standing Finance Committee on Thursday, Warmington described the current traffic situation on Mandela Highway as a “parking lot”.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the Government’s decision to prioritise three major road projects in Portmore over the areas that needed urgent attention to prevent the traffic gridlock on Mandela Highway.
“On what basis were the three first projects shifted to Portmore while you have these critical projects in Kingston?” Warmington asked.
Under the Government’s CAPEX programme, six key projects were identified for development – Grange Lane, Braeton/Hellshire Main Road, East King’s House/Lady Musgrave Road, Arthur Wint Drive, the New Portmore access road from Mandela Highway, and the widening of the Sandy Gully bridge.
Eyebrows were raised when Warmington said: “Why are we addressing these minor stuff in Portmore? Is it because they have connections to senior people in the NWA (National Works Agency)? I am asking the question.”
Government MP Robert Morgan, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, said it was important to upgrade the roads in Portmore.
According to Morgan, with the Bernard Lodge development, there will be a significant increase in traffic coming out of Portmore.
He said work on the expansion of Grange Lane is expected to be completed this month.
Morgan said that the contract for the Braeton to Hellshire Main Road was awarded this month. For the East King’s House to Lady Musgrave project, he said engineering designs have been completed but the Government was facing challenges acquiring lands to carry out the expansion of the roadway.
He said the Sandy Gully bridge is in the design phase of the project, and Arthur Wint Drive has been expanded to include Tom Redcam Drive to Deanery Road.