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MINISTER TOURS PALISADOES ROAD PROJECT
Minister Mike Henry (right) being shown features of the Palisadoes protection works by Mr. George Knight of the NWA. In the background are representatives of the media.
Minister Mike Henry conducted a tour of the Palisadoes Works Project on Thursday, August 7, 2008.
The tour was held to assess the progress taking place as well as update the media and other stakeholders on the work at the Palisadoes Project.
According to Minister Henry, the Government recently commenced work on a US$10M ($J720M) project to secure the roadway which leads to the Norman Manley International Airport, in the event of a storm surge or high tide. He said that funding is being provided by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
As far as progress of the work is concerned, so far, a stretch of two-metre high dunes has been built which according to National Works Agency officials can only protect the strip during a Category One or Two hurricane or in the event of high tide.
The Minister did note however, that the long-term plan was to apply a Cuban style rock revetment protection system along the 12kilometre-long strip. The dunes will also be raised to 4.1metres to adequately protect the area from storm surges caused by a Category Five hurricane.
The Project, is expected to enable the National Works Agency and the Ministry of Transport and Works to execute sea defense and infrastructure environmental protection works along the recommended 6.5km length of the Airport Road from Harbour View Round-a-bout to Plumb Point, thereby ensuring safe and un-interrupted access to the Norman Manley International Airport and Port Royal.
Since the passage of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the stretch of roadway along the Palisadoes Road has been compromised. During that hurricane, the protective features along the corridor were destroyed and water from the sea along with mounds of sand came on to the roadway and made it impassable. Since then, other issues such as high tide sometimes leaves the roadway littered with debris.
In July, 2006, Cabinet had approved a MOU to enter into a Technical Co-operation Agreement for a Coastal Protection Study with the Government of Cuba, in which the Palisadoes strip was identified as the priority area. A contractual agreement was subsequently entered into between the NWA on behalf of GOJ and a Cuban company to conduct a study and develop the design for the protection works along the area.
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