Montego Bay road project cost jumps by US$80 million

The cost of Jamaica's Montego Bay Perimeter Road project has surged by nearly US$80 million, pushing the total contract value to US$354.25 million. Minister with responsibility for Works, Robert Morgan, explained the increased expenditure during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.

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What is being built in Montego Bay is not merely another road. It is an integrated transportation system designed to move through-traffic away from the urban core, reduce congestion, improve travel reliability, strengthen road safety, and unlock new development opportunities across the western region.

Morgan attributed the cost escalation to an expanded scope and enhanced engineering requirements for the integrated transportation system. The project, currently 80% complete, employs 525 individuals, with 87% being Jamaican nationals. He emphasized that the development is more than just a road; it's designed to reroute through-traffic away from the urban core, alleviate congestion, enhance travel reliability, and bolster road safety.

The core of the project is the 15-kilometer Montego Bay Bypass, intended to divert traffic from the city center and improve regional movement. Additionally, the Long Hill Bypass, a 10.5-kilometer corridor, has been upgraded from a two-lane concept to a four-lane facility with median barriers. Morgan highlighted these upgrades as examples of "building stronger by design," anticipating future traffic demands.

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At the heart of the project is the 15-kilometre Montego Bay Bypass which will divert traffic away from the city centre and improve movement across the region.

Within the city, significant upgrades are underway on West Green Avenue, incorporating modern intersections, sidewalks, drainage, and traffic management systems. At Barnett Street, road expansion and a new two-lane bridge over the Montego River are being constructed to address a persistent bottleneck in a key commercial area.

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That decision reflects the very principle of building stronger by design: not merely designing for today’s traffic, but anticipating tomorrow’s demand.