SPARK Programme Delivers Historic Road Rehabilitation Across Jamaica
“The commitment of the government to spend 45 billion dollars on road repairs would be the largest commitment of any government in the history of Jamaica on the repair and rehabilitation of local and main roads. This is quite separate from the building of highways. So, if you take highways out of it, this would be the largest expenditure on the roads that run past your gate, essentially.” -Prime Minister Holness.
The Government is advancing the SPARK Programme, an extensive road rehabilitation initiative that represents the largest local road investment in the nation’s history.
Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness reiterates that unlike traditional patching efforts, the SPARK Programme focuses on building durable, high-quality roads that meet modern engineering standards and serve communities for years to come.
Speaking on Wednesday (June 25) at a tour of the Susan Road, Mahoe Drive, Jasmine Close and Ransford Close in Portmore, St. Catherine, Prime Minister Holness underscored the government’s decision to invest in long-term road solutions instead of short-term fixes. “So, the government of Jamaica could have decided that we’re going to spend 45 billion dollars and patch roads. It probably could patch maybe 70 percent of the roads that need to be patched, but you know what happens with patching. Within a year or two years, you have to go and patch again,” the Prime Minister explained.
Roads completed under the SPARK Programme are not simple resurfacing projects but total reconstructions. Each road is built with at least a three-inch asphalt overlay, a reinforced sub-base, proper drainage systems including V-drains and curb walls, and in many cases, sidewalks, retaining walls, and other essential road safety features. The roads also incorporate utility corridors that accommodate the installation or replacement of water mains, sewage lines, and telecommunication conduits.
Prime Minister Holness highlighted the unprecedented scale of the programme. “The commitment of the government to spend 45 billion dollars on road repairs would be the largest commitment of any government in the history of Jamaica on the repair and rehabilitation of local and main roads. This is quite separate from the building of highways. So, if you take highways out of it, this would be the largest expenditure on the roads that run past your gate, essentially,” said Prime Minister Holness.
Minister Robert Morgan provided updates on the progress of the SPARK Programme, confirming that construction is actively underway across the island. “We expect by mid-August, we’ll have about 130 roads under construction and by the end of the year, we’ll probably be constructing some complete, some not, probably 160 roads,” Minister Morgan reported.
The SPARK Programme is already transforming communities, with approximately 100 roads in various stages of rehabilitation and nearly 30 roads approaching completion. One of the first finished roads, Susan Avenue, was rebuilt with new drainage, a three-inch asphalt layer, and road markings to ensure durability and safety.
Each SPARK Road comes with a one-year defects liability period, requiring contractors to promptly address any issues at no cost to the government.
In the meantime, the government continues to monitor the quality of the work closely to ensure long-term value for communities.