This section of the Leith Hall main road in St. Thomas was washed away following heavy rains which have been affecting the island over the past two weeks.- Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

The Ministry of Transport and Works is advising that despite more than $300 million being already approved by the Ministry of Finance for expenditure in the first phase of repair works on the more than $600 million in estimated road and other infrastructural damage from the recent rainfalls and some overhang from damage during Hurricane Dean in August, only critical repair works will begin immediately.

"This is as a result of the need to beware of the traditional October rains which are likely to continue, making it ill-advised to do major and extensive road repairs now, only to have the surfaces damaged shortly thereafter, and needing to redo the roads again," said a statement issued by the ministry yesterday.

According to Transport and Works Minister, Mike Henry, "only critically necessary repair works will proceed as of this weekend, along the main roadways across the country and within the metropolitan centres".

Depending on the rainfall pattern for the remainder of this month, a wider scale approach to the repair effort may commence before the end of the month, but some of this may be delayed closer to the end of the hurricane season next month.