Portmore, St Catherine is undergoing significant infrastructure enhancements as the National Works Agency (NWA) advances its road expansion project along Braeton Parkway. This critical initiative, slated for completion by December 2024, forms part of a comprehensive traffic management strategy accompanying the larger $2.4-billion Naggo Head to Braeton Road and Hellshire main road dualisation project that commenced in June.
Stephen Shaw, NWA’s communications and customer services manager, explained the strategic importance of widening Braeton Parkway from Portmore Tax Office to Hung Way Shopping Mall intersection. “This expansion creates vital capacity for traffic circulation around our primary construction zone,” Shaw stated, emphasizing that no additional costs are associated with this specific roadway widening. The project includes improvements at the Municipal Boulevard intersection to optimize traffic movement.
While installation of drainage features including a box culvert will temporarily reduce carriageway availability, officials confirmed no complete road closures are currently anticipated. Mayor Leon Thomas welcomed the development, noting the corridor’s heavy utilization by motorists and pedestrians amid growing business development. “We’re striving to complete portions before Christmas to improve residents’ daily commute,” Thomas commented, referencing traffic challenges exacerbated by both construction activities and recent Hurricane Melissa impacts.
The broader 16-month dualisation effort falls under Jamaica’s Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Programme, representing substantial government investment in urban infrastructure. The project will transform approximately three kilometers of roadway into a modern four-lane thoroughfare featuring raised medians, sidewalks, and synchronized traffic signals. Additionally, the initiative incorporates underground duct installation for fiber-optic cables as part of the National Broadband Initiative, simultaneously advancing both transportation and digital connectivity infrastructure.