Motorists are not the only ones making use of the newly opened May Pen to Williamsfield Highway which is being over run by goats and cows, despite recent warnings from the government that owners should secure their livestock to prevent road fatalities.
A total of 284 Jamaicans have lost their lives in 264 collisions on the nation’s roads since the start of this year. At least six of these deaths were as a result of vehicles colliding with animals.
Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Daryl Vaz stated that these were the number of road fatalities up to September 12.
Although the figures represent a 16 percent decrease compared to last year, the minister appealed to Jamaicans to drive responsibly while using the newly opened May Pen to Williamsfield leg of the Southern Coastal Highway and other thoroughfares across the island during its recent opening.
“While we build out the infrastructure, we know that it encourages people to obviously drive faster, but we need to be mindful that this is not the objective; it is more connectivity,” Vaz said.
“The statistics remind us of the gravity of the issue. Every year, an unacceptable number of lives are impacted by crashes on our roads – main roads, parochial roads and highways. Families are torn apart, dreams are shattered, and futures are forever altered because of these crashes,” the minister pointed out.
There were 488 road fatalities last year.
The May Pen to Williamsfield highway project is expected to reduce travel time from Kingston to Mandeville. It was originally scheduled to be completed in October 2022, but the time frame was then changed to January 2023 and later to March 2023.
In a photo seen by the Freedom Come Rain Newspaper, cows were observed traversing the thoroughfare at the same time vehicles were trying to get to their destination. Road users complained that the fencing and signage for the highway has not yet been completed. One person observed that many of the guardrails were erected over the weekend after the road was opened for use. The absence of fencing has made it easier for animals to gain access to the thoroughfare.
During the official opening of the highway, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said he wanted to fast-track construction of Jamaica’s highway network to attract investment, create jobs, and improve people’s lives.
“Infrastructure is the foundation of any economy… Good infrastructure enables trade, drives businesses, connects workers to their jobs, and creates opportunities. Without good infrastructure, it is difficult to attract investment [and] create jobs,” the prime minister said.
He said the intention is to also extend the Williamsfield in Manchester to Hodges Highway.
“The ultimate plan is to extend the east-west highway to Negril, and this highway will bypass Spur Tree [Hill], which is such a treacherous road, and it will be a four-lane highway with international standards for driving and safety,” he said.
Nadine Wilson-Harris