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A section of the North Coast Highway.

A major project which falls under the aegis of the Ministry of Transport and Works recently won two awards at the Iowa Engineering Conference held in Des Moines, Iowa, USA.

Segment Two of The North Coast Highway Improvement Project which runs from Montego Bay, St. James to Ocho Rios in St. Ann picked up first place overall in the Grand Conceptor Award Category as well as the Grand Place Award for Engineering Excellence.

Segment Two of the North Coast Highway Improvement Project is one of the three Segments which make up the overall Project. It covers some 97 kilometres and was opened on December 14, 2006. Contractor for the Project was Jose’ Cartellone Construcciones Civiles of Argentina and was funded by a loan from the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) and  the Government of Jamaica amounting to US$164M.

The other two legs of the Highway are Segment One which runs from Negril in Westmoreland to Montego Bay and Segment Three which runs from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio, Portland. Segment Three is currently in an advanced state construction. 

Commenting on the award, Minister of Transport and Works Mike Henry noted that this was a ‘feather in Jamaica’s cap’, especially against the poor perception of Jamaica’s road network.

“The award speaks to the excellent work that was carried out on the corridor by local and overseas workers and we are very justly proud to be associated with it,” he said.

On hand in Des Moines, Iowa to receive the awards, were Permanent Secretary, Dr. Alwin Hales, the former CEO of the National Works Agency, Mr. Milton Hodelin and representatives of Stanley Consultants Inc. who provided consultancy services to Segment Two of