Prime Minister Andrew Holness has given instructions to contractors working on behalf of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to repair a section of the Yallahs, St. Thomas stretch of the newly constructed South Coast Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP).
The work is scheduled to begin this weekend.
The development was announced on Friday by Robert Morgan, Minister without Portfolio in the Department of Economic Growth and Job Creation and responsible for the works, during an inspection of the damaged road.
Residents of the community have expressed concern about the damage and outbreaks on this section of the highway.
Morgan said substandard materials used in the construction of the road were the likely cause of the damage. The damage occurred on about 25 percent, or 1 mile, of the four-mile stretch of road between Salt Pond and Pamphret in the township.
According to him, “the damage is now becoming apparent due to the weight of the vehicles and has been made worse by Hurricane Beryl.”
The minister said the repairs would not cost taxpayers any extra money because, according to SCHIP, “there is a two-year defect liability period. This means that after the road is handed over, the (main) contractor, i.e. China Harbour (Engineering Company), is obliged to pay for and repair all damages and defects on the road within two years.”
In addition, Morgan said CHEC is “committed” to repairing the road even before “the package” is handed over, which he said is expected to happen in March 2025.
“The Prime Minister has given instructions that this entire section needs to be repaired and repairs are due to begin this weekend,” Morgan said.
In the meantime, he said, CHEC and its subcontractors would conduct ongoing testing of the pavement to ensure its quality is maintained.
