Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Motorists cross Flat Bridge in the Bog Walk gorge, which was reopened to vehicular traffic yesterday afternoon. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine:

Sunday's reopening of the Bog Walk gorge - the major corridor linking Jamaica's capital to the north coast - brought massive relief to commuters who have been forced to traverse rugged alternative routes for more than a month.

The winding St Catherine thoroughfare was severely damaged during the onslaught of Tropical Storm Gustav in August, reducing stretches of the roadway to rubble.

Highway contractors, French company Bouygues Travaux Publics, fixed the road at their expense. The route had been repaired several times recently but the roadwork was often a mere tourniquet, only to be undone by torrential rainfall and landslides.

Grateful to Bouygues

Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry yesterday said the reopening of the critical roadway was a major milestone.

"We are thankful for this initiative by Bouygues as it now helps to make the lives of persons adversely affected more productive as they can travel faster," Henry said.

The renovated road's sternest test may come later this month - October being one of the rainiest periods of the year, and during the remainder of the Atlantic hurricane season, which ends November 30.

The Bog Walk gorge serves as a major connecting route for rural Jamaicans who travel to the metropolis for school and work.

Heartache

The road's closure had caused nightmares for citizens who were forced to ply the rough terrain through Barry or take a serpentine journey into the hills of Sligoville.

The longer trips had triggered a rise in bus fares for commuters, as well as a spike in petrol bills and other overheads for private motorists and firms. Some drivers had also been victim to extortionists.

Patrick Cornu and Lionel Pareira, senior site supervisors for Bouygues, yesterday said the work was done with very few hiccups.

Sections of the strip have been heightened, but remedial work is scheduled to done on damaged retaining walls. Henry sought to assure that the outstanding repairs would be completed soon.

Work had also been done to shore up Flat Bridge.

Thrilled at reopening

Motorists who were among the first to travel along the route yesterday told The Gleaner they were relieved at being able to forego alternative routes through Silgoville or Barry.

"Bwoy, we really thankful that the road reopen. It is like Christmas come earlier than December, as the travel on the other road really cost us a whole lot o' money.

"We (are) thankful for the company for their work and hope that the road will stay longer this time," remarked Michael Sutton.