Residents of Albion and Salter’s Hill in St James will soon be able to travel in comfort as two bridges in those communities are being rehabilitated by the St. James Municipal Corporation at a cost of over $13-million.
The two projects; a foot bridge in Albion in the Montego Bay South Division and a double cell boxed culvert bridge in Salter’s Hill in the Springmount Division were identified as priorities by the respective Councillors for the areas, Councillor Richard Vernon and Councillor Uvel Graham.
The foot bridge in Albion is being reconstructed to connect King Street and adjoining areas to the main thoroughfare in Albion and will replace the previous structure which collapsed during the 2017 flood which saw a large section of the city being negatively impacted.
According to Councillor Vernon, said although the foot bridge is not the only means by which the citizens travel, but it adds great ease to travel.
In welcoming the work being done in the Albion Bridge, Councillor Vernon said “I am positive that the residents are enthused by the prospects of being able to travel more conveniently. I am also cognizant that with the near reopening of schools, students will be guaranteed better safety with the addition of this foot bridge”.
Project Manager and Assistant Superintendent at the St James Municipal Corporation, Yannick Beckford, gives the foot bridge in Albion, St James a test trial while on a visit to oversee the project on Thursday October 28, 2021.
Work on the Albion Bridge is estimated to be 98-percent complete and should be handed over to the community by Friday November 05, 2021.
Meanwhile, a double cell boxed culvert bridge is being constructed in the community of Salters Hill in the Springmount Division, where Councillor Uvel Graham is the local political representative.
The previous bridge that connected the community to other adjoining areas fell into a state of disrepair years ago, resulting in undue hardship for the travelling public.
The St. James Municipal Corporation commenced work on this project in March 2021 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year at a cost of 9-point 5-million dollars.
In looking forward to the completion of the bridge, Councillor Uvel Graham stated that “ I know for a fact that this particular project will add great value to the community and the residents have made it known that they are very pleased with the infrastructural work being undertaken to alleviate some of their travel woes.”