Rasbert Turner, Sunday Gleaner Writer

A work crew from Bouygues construction company doing repair work on the roadway in the Bog Walk gorge, St Catherine, that was recently damaged by Tropical Storm Gustav.- Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Spanish Town:

Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry says the Bog Walk gorge, in St Catherine, is expected to be back in operation within four weeks as Bouygues construction company has commenced remedial work on the corridor, which was badly damaged during the recent passage of Tropical Storm Gustav.

The minister toured the area yesterday along with representatives from Bouygues, and Member of Parliament Natalie Neita-Headley. Their discussions included employing persons in the community on the road-repair project.

no cost

"The work will be done over a four-week period by Bouygues and we are really thankful that they are undertaking this multimillion-dollar venture at no cost. It is really showing that they are very good corporate citizens," noted Henry. The French-based Bouygues has been involved in the construction of highways in Jamaica since the early 2000s. It is currently constructing a highway to bypass Mount Rosser in St Catherine.

Aside from repairing the damage to the roadway, the company will be rebuilding retaining walls, as well as helping to train part of the Rio Cobre, which frequently overflows its banks in storm weather. After that phase of work is completed, Bouygues, in collaboration with the National Works Agency, will conduct a maintenance assessment.

Louis Brais, managing director of Bouygues, says he regards the venture as a labour of love. "It was necessary for us to take on this work as we could quickly mobilise our resources from Mount Rosser to the gorge so that people can enjoy a normal type of lifestyle," he told The Sunday Gleaner.