Montego Bay Sees Major Road Repairs Through STEP-UP Programme

Montego Bay, St. James – Nine key roads across Montego Bay have been successfully repaired as part of the MoBay Striving Towards Environmental Protection & Urban Preservation (STEP-UP) programme, an initiative aimed at addressing critical infrastructure and urban challenges in the parish.

The STEP-UP programme, which targets urban improvement through strategic collaborations, has seen significant progress through the combined efforts of the Municipal Corporation, the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), WPM Waste Management Limited, and the St. James Health Department. Together, these entities have worked to enhance the quality of life for residents by tackling pressing roadway issues.

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, expressed satisfaction with the progress, noting that the programme is fulfilling its mission of improving urban orderliness. “We are committed to local development and believe that improving road surfaces will allow our economy to perform better, due to reduced congestion. Therefore, we continue to ‘STEP-UP’ where it matters most,” Mayor Vernon stated in an interview with JIS News.

The roads that have been repaired under the initiative include River Bay Road, Albion Road, Barnett Street, South Street, Harbour Street, Market Street, Sewell Ave, Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, and Godfrey Dyer Boulevard. These improvements are expected to ease traffic flow and enhance accessibility across the city.

In addition to road repairs, the programme has deployed a roving team dedicated to thorough clean-up and debushing efforts, ensuring that the city’s environment is well-maintained.

Looking ahead, the STEP-UP programme plans to extend its infrastructural work to additional areas, with Thompson Street, Hart Street, Jarrett Street, Tate Street, McCatty Street, Queen Street, Princess Street, Railway Lane, Creek Street, Foster Ave, and the Freeport Area next on the list for upgrades.

“These initiatives will continue routinely, with more components of the STEP-UP programme to be activated in short order,” Mayor Vernon added, emphasizing the ongoing commitment to urban development in Montego Bay.