Jamaica's national works agency (NWA) will begin a US$65.7mn project to improve the Palisadoes highway in capital Kingston in July, government information service JIS reported.

 

The two-lane highway will be expanded to four lanes and maintenance will also be carried out to repair cumulative damage caused by several hurricanes. In addition, the construction firm will build a boardwalk along the Palisadoes shoreline.

 

The project is primarily being financed by a US$55.8mn loan from the China Eximbank. The Jamaican government will provide the remaining 15% of the necessary resources.

 

Work will be carried out by Chinese firm China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC).

 

The Palisadoes highway connects the capital to the Norman Manley international airport and is therefore of strategic importance.

 

The expansion is part of a US$465mn initiative to improve roads in Jamaica over the next five years. The plan will improve roads, bridges and drains, rehabilitating approximately 300km of provincial roads and 270km of main roads.