With a significant portion of construction work complete, welding workers made final touches to a gate at the new Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) bus park in downtown Kingston last week.

The high walls, made even higher by metal spikes, have already been painted and, on Thursday, the grounds of the South terminus were ready to be asphalted.

Construction across the road at the accompanying North terminus was not as far advanced. Last Thursday, work was still being done on an outer wall. Inside, workmen were laying brick and a roller was being used to smooth down the surface. There were no visible stands, but the pavement marks the spot where they are to be.

Public transportation

The North terminus is expected to host public transportation that currently operates in Parade, including all minibuses and taxicabs.

An overhead pedestrian bridge will connect the two facilities, allowing commuters to get from terminus to terminus safely.

Francis Kennedy, chairman of the Kingston City Centre Improvement Committee (KCCIC), said the JUTC terminus is expected to have 49 bus stations and it is expected that 600 buses will roll in every day.

Each bus station will carry a sign indicating which route operates from it.

It is expected that 50,000 commuters will use the terminus on weekdays, with a reduction in that number on weekends.

A police post will operate from the JUTC terminus, providing security for the area.

Delivery time

"There will be no vending in the JUTC terminus, stalls will be for rent in the North terminus.These are to sell snacks, food and refreshments, cigarettes, etc, but no clothes and craft items," said Kennedy.

The JUTC South terminus will be completed in August while the North terminus will be completed a little later. Both are expected to open in September.

"This delivery time is subject to weather conditions," Kennedy stressed.

Responding to the prospect of having a new bus park, commuters at Parade, the existing location for transportation, expressed some concerns.

" I don't like it. Not at all. It is more risky all the way down there from everything," one commuter said.

A JUTC worker also shared concerns about the safety of the area, especially at nights.

"It look all right. I hope it will be supported," said Evan, another commuter.