ST JAMES, Jamaica — Engineering officials are contemplating a complete roadway realignment in Springmount, St James, following catastrophic damage inflicted by Hurricane Melissa. The storm triggered a massive breakaway along a critical transport artery, severing connections between northern St James and southern communities while creating a dangerous precipice.
Janel Ricketts, Community Relations Representative for the National Works Agency’s western region, confirmed that engineers are actively evaluating multiple solutions for the compromised roadway. “We’re examining potential diversions in that area,” Ricketts stated to Observer Online. “The scale of this breakaway is enormous, requiring us to identify the optimal engineering approach. Current considerations involve shifting the road alignment based on the extensive damage assessment.”
The destroyed roadway has drastically limited access, with only a narrow segment remaining passable for pedestrians and occasional motorcycle traffic. Major vehicle transit has been redirected through Hampton via neighboring routes. Ricketts noted the precarious conditions, observing that “some brave people are riding motorcycles along there” despite obvious dangers.
Complicating recovery efforts, ongoing rainfall continues to deteriorate conditions. Ricketts warned residents about hazardous travel conditions, noting overnight rains had deposited additional mud and created slippery surfaces. She emphasized that “they ought to be travelling with extreme caution” as weather conditions persist.
Despite challenges, recovery progress is evident throughout the parish. The NWA has successfully restored the Chelsea gully area where river erosion had consumed the roadway. Multiple other locations have received preliminary repairs, though Ricketts acknowledged that significant work remains. “We’ve addressed initial stages, but many areas require reshaping and asphalt laying,” she explained.
Remarkably, all St James roadways except Springmount have reopened to public use, though many show substantial erosion damage. Areas near Seven Rivers in Cambridge experienced weeks of inundation that heavily scoured road surfaces even after water receded. The NWA is now prioritizing these erosion-damaged sections following initial landslide clearance and drainage work.
Ricketts characterized the overall rehabilitation as “a work in progress” that will require substantial time due to the extensive damage scope, assuring residents that continued improvements are underway.