NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022 3 infrastructure to meet the demand of the growing city,” Silvera said. The town centre also holds importance for the city as it hosts places such as Digicel’s corporate offices for western Jamaica as well as many audit, law, and insurance firms. Most stores in the town centre feature modern architecture and beautiful landscaping. The city is home to many health institutions such as the Cornwall Regional Hospital as well as the recently opened Hospiten, a Spanishowned, private hospital located in Rose Hall. As the town centre continues to expand at a rapid pace, it will be home to more businesses soon, some only found in Montego Bay. “In order to meet the demand of the number of vehicles that are now in, we need to ensure that we have a transportation centre. We have all these people that have moved into the city, but we have not expanded where that is concerned,” Silvera said. The US$274.5 million contract was signed late last year for the Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project, which will see construction of a 14.9-kilometre bypass of the city.This is expected to create a safe and reliable alternative route for motorists travelling along that corridor. It will also assist in reducing traffic congestion within the city. The scope of work includes the construction of the Montego Bay bypass road, rehabilitation of Barnett Street and West Green Avenue, as well as the construction of the Long Hill bypass (10.5 kilometres). A drainage study of the Montego Bay bypass area is also to be conducted under the project. The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation entered into the contractual agreement with China Harbour Engineering Company Limited for the entity to carry out the works. It is expected that the project will open new areas to the south of Montego Bay for development and expansion, giving access to lands for housing development. “Montego Bay does need an urgent facelift. It cannot be that we are the tourism capital and we don’t see that reflected in downtown Montego Bay. What are we bringing tourism to if not to a city that stands out, that looks good, and is well, and is a little more orderly than what it is at this time,” Silvera said. JAMAICA AT 60: MONTEGO BAY A section of Orange Street in downtown Montego Bay. This is located near the famous North Gully community. jamaica AT keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com
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