News from the OPM

Government Committed to Addressing Road Challenges through Immediate and Long-term Strategies


Government Committed to Addressing Road Challenges through Immediate and Long-term Strategies

“We are committed to addressing these [road] challenges with urgency and determination through both immediate actions and comprehensive long-term planning.”

-Prime Minister Holness
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Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says the Government of Jamaica remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the nation’s road infrastructure challenges.

Recognizing the significant impact of prolonged rainfall in 2024, comprehensive and strategic approaches have been adopted to provide immediate relief while laying the groundwork for sustainable and resilient road networks.

Speaking in the Parliament on Tuesday (January 21, 2025), Prime Minister Holness outlined the Government’s strategy. “The Government is doing both the patching and full rehabilitation of the roads. We are patching the roads, we are making the road surface drivable, and that is a $6.5 billion allocation in the budget. We have another programme called the SPARK programme, which is designed to rehabilitate and upgrade the entirety of the road. It sometimes includes putting in water pipes and some amount of intersection improvement, road furniture where necessary, support infrastructure, retaining walls, and more.”

In response to the urgent needs created by adverse weather conditions, the Government allocated $6.5 billion toward a comprehensive restoration strategy. This includes $5 billion for road surface repairs and $1.5 billion for a constituency-based mitigation programme launched in late 2024. Additionally, the $45 billion SPARK (Special Programme for Accelerated Roadworks and Knowledge) initiative has been introduced to address long-term road rehabilitation and upgrades in communities across the country.

Prime Minister Holness emphasized the two-pronged approach being implemented to improve the country’s road network. “So, the concern of the public is well noted, and it is being addressed. We have two streams of effort. The first stream of effort is to get the road surfaces back to driving condition after extreme weather events, and the second stream of effort is to improve roads to a very high standard and extend their useful life. The target is that we will probably have between 600 and 650 roads that will be improved islandwide under the SPARK programme. That will have a massive impact.”

The $5 billion Road Surface Repair Programme has achieved significant progress under the broader REACH (Rehabilitation and Enhancement of Critical Highways) Programme.

The initiative includes:

  • Constituency-based Mitigation Programme ($1.5 billion): Currently 55% complete, addressing localized road damage and providing much-needed relief to communities.

 

  • Main Road Patching and Repair ($2 billion): Initiated in December 2024 to restore critical main roads, ensuring safe and efficient travel.

Highlighting the Government’s long-term vision, the Prime Minister said, “The SPARK initiative reflects our commitment not just to repairing the damage but also to building a stronger, more resilient road network for future generations.”

Construction under the SPARK programme, which commenced in December 2024, is a crucial step toward achieving this goal, modernizing Jamaica’s road infrastructure and improving the quality of life for all citizens. The Government remains dedicated to creating a road network that is durable, sustainable, and capable of withstanding future challenges.