Janet Silvera, Senior Tourism Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) is expressing concern about the pace at which the construction of the north coast highway is progressing between the Sangster International Airport and Salt Marsh, Trelawny.

Speaking with The Gleaner last week, Chamber president Pauline Reid said the authorities promised the completion of two lanes in time for Cricket World Cup 2007.

The remaining two lanes are to be completed by August this year. But Ms. Reid says that assurance now seems insanely possible.

Potential nightmare

According to her, if the recent Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival is to be used as a benchmark, the proposed 12,000-15,000 additional visitors for Cricket World Cup will definitely create a nightmare in the tourist capital, Montego Bay.

During the jazz festival, many patrons were stuck in traffic for up to four hours struggling to get from the airport to the Rose Hall venue.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller was forced to walk back to her hotel after the event ended at 4 o'clock on Saturday morning because her official vehicle was sandwiched in the traffic jam.

Calling the work now being carried out as short-sighted decision making, Ms. Reid said this section of the highway should not have been left for the winter tourist season when the traffic in the area is at its peak. "Why was the tourism capital left for last when we contribute so much to the national purse?" she questioned.

She also lambasted the communications team in charge of the project. "This corridor which is at its most unattractive state at present should be lined with signs apologising for the 'work-in-progress', but all that is apparent is the lack of proper directional signs, reflectors and lighting, especially at nights causing immense difficulty for motorists," she said.

Working at nights

Ms. Reid is recommending that work be carried out during the nights, if necessary.

"The real legacy of cricket is the opportunity that we will get to showcase Jamaica to the over 1.8 billion viewers and the international press who will be here for the event, so it follows that we must have a plan of action to handle the increase level of traffic in the city," she told The Gleaner.

This segment of the north coast highway which was awarded to Danish contractor Pihl commenced in March 2006 has been described as a nightmare by users of the road.

Efforts to get a comment from Stephen Shaw, director of communications at the National Works Agency (NWA), were unsuccessful.