OLD HARBOUR WEATHER

   

Closed Spring Village bridge collapses

Article by: 
Old Harbour News
1 views
11/06/2024 - 19:45
Today’s collapse of the closed Spring Village bridge following the passage of Tropical Storm Rafael has brought renewed attention to the ongoing infrastructure challenges facing the area.
Get the Latest news by email

Officially closed since 2022 due to safety concerns, the bridge has remained a vital but hazardous passage for pedestrians attempting to travel between Spring Village and Gutters.

Despite warnings, people continued to use it until the underlying earth gave way, exacerbated by yesterday’s heavy rainfall and flooding from the Coburn Gully, which overwhelmed its banks after 16 hours of torrential downpour.

The incident has raised serious concerns over the state of infrastructure in the community, especially given that it has been five months since the Jamaican government approved a $230 million contract for a new bridge.

This decision came after a tour of the area by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Member of Parliament Everald Warmington, and executives from the Jamaica Broilers Group.

Despite this approval, there has been no public announcement of a start date for the new bridge's construction, and commuters continue to struggle.

Residents and commuters have already been dealing with a drastic increase in transportation costs since the bridge's closure. Alternative routes have caused fares to spike by more than 1000% in some cases, significantly impacting those who rely on affordable transport to travel between communities.

The situation underscores the urgency of addressing critical infrastructure needs in the region, and local stakeholders are likely to continue pushing for more immediate action to alleviate the strain on commuters and prevent further disruptions to the local economy and daily life.


Old Harbour News is a community-based online news media outlet based in Jamaica with more than 300,000 unique visitors since 2013. However, we are soliciting your support to continue provide independent journalism and unique stories tailored just for you. Your contribution, however small it may be, will ensure our service to you remain independent and grow to serve you better. Click the DONATE BUTTON now to support Old Harbour News. Thank you.