By Kimone Witter
Public Works Minister Robert Morgan says the deficiencies on the Southern Coastal Highway will be remedied under the contract with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).
After Hurricane Beryl, drivers traveling from Yallahs to Prospect and from Morant Bay to Cedar Valley in St. Thomas wondered how the recently rehabilitated road had already fallen into disrepair.
On Tuesday, St. Thomas Custodian Marcia Bennett called for immediate repairs to the road.
In an interview with Radio Jamaica News on Thursday morning, Public Works Minister Robert Morgan said the road was expected to be in need of repair after the hurricane.
Mr Morgan sought to remind the public that work on the project was still ongoing, pointing out that while sections of the road had been opened, the entire road project was yet to be handed over by the contractor, CHEC.
“In addition, there is a so-called defect liability period. As soon as the road is handed over, there is a one-year period, i.e. twelve months, in which the contractor must fix any defects that arise – be it a collapsed wall, potholes or problems with the asphalt surface,” he explained.
Mr Morgan stressed that the damaged sections of road would be repaired before the project was handed over to the government.
