Motorists cross Flat Bridge in the Bog Walk gorge. The bridge, which has claimed many lives, is being slated for major development.- Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Robert Montague, minister of state with responsibility for local government, says there is a call for expressions of interest to pre-qualify contractors to build floodgates at the Bog Walk gorge.

He said once this phase was completed, the formal tender process would start in the next three weeks. Tenders would then be sent to the National Contracts Committee for approval. "Hopefully, sometime in January we should start, and the construction is to take about six weeks," said Montague, who said that the work was being done in collaboration with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management and the St Catherine Parish Council.

too much spent on rescue

"We have lost too many Jamaicans in that gorge; we have spent too much resources rescuing people," the minister said.

Montague said one gate would be posted at Bog Walk at the bridge at the turn to Sligoville, one at Kent Village, and another at Damhead. The minister said when constructed, the gate would be closed for those in Kent Village so they could get home without going to Flat Bridge.

An automatic gate would also be constructed and would connect the bridge to the Bog Walk Police Station and to the early warning system that is already in the river. "Once the water reaches a certain point, the gates will be closed and the alarms will go off at the police station," the minister said.

Additionally, Montague said while it was not in the immediate plans, phase two of the project would include a video board, which would be installed to inform motorists that the gorge was closed.

Construction is expected to cost between $6 and $7 million.

kimesha.walters@gleanerjm.com