Ceila Morgan, News Editor - Radio

Motorists drive carefully through flood waters on the Norman Manley Highway, better known as Palisadoes road, in Kingston on Sunday - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry is optimistic that the current conditions affecting the Palisadoes road in Kingston will be improved before the start of the next hurricane season on June 1.

The Palisadoes strip is the only access route to the Norman Manley International Airport by road.

On the weekend, the strip was again flooded by high tides which deposited sea water and debris on to the roadway, reducing it to single-lane traffic.

It is the second time in two months that the Palisadoes road has been inundated.

Mr. Henry said the situation is being treated with urgency.

"I'm trying hard to speed this up against the background of the emergency of the situation, but the whole approach to procurement is hampering some of this. But expect some improvement," he told The Gleaner/Power 106 News.

In the meantime, the Transport Minister said piles of boulders were to be used to pack both sides of the roadway, especially the areas which have eroded.

Bidding proposals

A budgetary allocation of $40 million is being used to carry out the repairs to the harbour section of the strip.

In addition, Mr. Henry says a US$500,000 (J$35 million) loan from the Caribbean Development Bank, to effect further repairs to the seaside section of the Palisadoes road, is expected by the end of this month.

These repairs will include the recommendations from a study conducted by a Cuban team in 2006.

"We've gone ahead in anticipation of that and prepared the request for bidding or proposals which should be advertised very shortly, but obviously we can't advertise it 'til we have the approval of the loan in writing," Mr. Henry said. "In the interim, I'm seeking to see how we can perhaps reduce the procurement procedures in order to allow us to have a continuity of that protection which is so vitally urgent and important."

Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry has commissioned the final economic study to determine the feasibility of constructing a third international airport at Vernamfield in south-west Clarendon.

The study, which is being undertaken by American aviation consulting firm, SH&E Inc., and funded by the private sector, is to begin in February and be completed in August.

Mr. Henry said the Government is also looking at the possibility of relocating the Jamaica Defence Force Air wing to Vernamfield.

ceila.morgan@gleanerjm.com