Detour comes in effect for demolition of Myton Gully bridge

The demolition work forms part of phase one of the Big Pond/Myton Gully drainage improvement project, funded by the World Bank at a cost of US$8 million under its disaster vulnerability reduction programme for Jamaica.

“Effective this Tuesday, February 14, 2023, a traffic detour will be in effect along Old Harbour Road in St. Catherine. The detour will be in effect in the vicinity of the Myton Gully Bridge in order to facilitate the demolishing of the old structure,” stated the National Works Agency (NWA) in a release on the project which began at the start of the new year.

Manager, Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw says that the detour of the road will facilitate the construction of a larger bridge at the location. He says that the works will also include improvements to the drain, both upstream and downstream of the bridge. Gabion protective works will form part of the activities.

The old Myton Gully bridge is being demolished as part of a World Bank funded programme. Under the programme, drainage improvement works are to be done to mitigate flooding in several St. Catherine communities, including Big Pond. This aspect of the work is being done through a contract with local firm Contraxx Enterprises Limited valued at $248 million and is to be completed in 12 months.

Motorists and pedestrians are being advised to exercise caution while traversing the area and to obey the instructions of the flag persons and the posted warning signs.

The project is being managed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), with the National Works Agency (NWA) supervising the works.

When complete the new bridge will accommodate dual lanes, while the gully is being expanded to hold the highest average amount of rainfall recorded in the last century.

Phase two of the project, sees improvement works extended from Myton Gully proper through to Frazer’s Gully in Old Harbour Bay, while the final phase will be executed from Claremont to Big Pond.

A timeline for the next two phases is yet to be determined.