Roads in Jamaica

The road network in Jamaica consists of almost 21,000 kilometres of roads, of which over 15,000 kilometres is paved. The numbering scheme used covers freeways, primary (or A) roads, secondary (or B) roads, parochial roads and unclassified roads.

Starting in the late 1990s the Jamaican Government (in cooperation with private investors) embarked on the Highway 2000 project to create a system of motorways, the first such access-controlled roads of their kind on the island. The project seeks ultimately to link the two main cities (Kingston and Montego Bay) and the north coast. It is being undertaken as a series of phases:

On 2009-09-15 Jamaica's prime minister, Bruce Golding, announced to Parliament that Highway 2000 was to be renamed in honour of Usain Bolt. Those intentions were sidelined following a news paper article claiming Bolt had rejected the proposal.

1998, the Government of Jamaica and the European Commission signed the financing agreement for the third segment of the Northern Coastal Highway Improvement Project in the amount of EURO80 million. The Project involves the reconstruction and re-habilitation of approximately 96km of road between Ocho Rios, St. Ann and Port Antonio, Portland. Total cost of the project is EURO 105.0 million with the GOJ contributing EURO 25 million for land acquisition and re-settlement as well as the construction of three bridges along the segment.

The entire project consists of approximately 287km of roadway and is divided into three segments. · Segment 1 – Negril to Montego Bay (approx. 71km) · Segment 2 – Montego Bay to Ocho Rios (approx. 97km) · Segment 3 – Ocho Rios to Fair Prospect (approx. 119km)

Approval has been given by Cabinet for the execution of a contract between the government and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. for the design, improvement and construction of Sections 1A and 1B of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project. This will involve work from Harbour View to Morant Bay as part of the overall Segment from Harbour View to Port Antonio.

The existing main road along this southern coastal section of the island has been in generally poor condition. The alignment, surface condition, drainage are in need of major improvement.

The Harbour View to Morant Bay section covers some 43km, with Morant Bay to Port Antonio approximately 65km. The work on the Harbour View to Morant Bay leg is estimated to cost approximately US385 million dollars.

Among the improvement works will be a re alignment of the White Horses Bypass to the south of the town along the sea coast rather than to the north and modification of the Morant Bay Bypass at the western and eastern ends.

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