Single-lane traffic for Junction road
NWA working to restore full access after landslides
by Gareth Davis Sr/Gleaner Writer · The GleanerSingle-lance access was restored to the Junction main road in St Mary on Thursday as work crews from the National Works Agency (NWA) sought to clear the thoroughfare after two massive landslides on Wednesday.
Sections of the Broadgate and Mason Yard roads were impacted by the landslides.
NWA Communications Manager Stephen Shaw told The Gleaner on Thursday that the work crews had managed to clear some of the debris, restoring single-lane access to the roadway from Broadgate to Friendship Gap. He said work would continue to restore full access to motorists and pedestrians.
The clearing process has been challenging as with each clearing of the roadway on Wednesday, more debris kept sliding down the hillside, blocking the roadway again.
It was only on Thursday, with additional equipment and manpower, that the crews were able to rid the roadways of downed trees, boulders, dirt, mud, and other forms of debris.
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Motorists and commuters breathed sighs of relief with the restoration of single-lane access in the affected sections as they were now able to travel into Kingston and Annotto Bay more easily.
Danielle Brown, a motorist from Hart Hill in Portland, told The Gleaner that she was stuck in traffic for more than three hours while the teams worked to clear the landslide, but their efforts were hampered by the inclement weather.
“It is said that out of adversity comes opportunity, and that was quite evident on Wednesday as shop operators benefited from the roadblock as dozens of motorists who were stranded spent money throughout the day to buy snacks, water, juices, and other items. So it was a good day for shopkeepers, but a bad one for motorists,” she said.
Heavy rains have been pelting sections of St Mary since last Friday.
St Mary South East Member of Parliament Dr Norman Dunn said that the heavy rains have resulted in several houses in the Dover area being flooded.
Dunn said that work crews have also been assigned to clear landslides in George Hope and Top Leinster.