THE National Works Agency (NWA) says it has reopened, to at least single-lane access, the majority of the more than 60 roads blocked by persistent rains in the parishes of St Mary, Portland and St Thomas. Five roadways, however, remained blocked in two parishes.

The NWA's manager of communication and customer services, Stephen Shaw, said teams from the agency started working early yesterday morning to reopen the affected corridors.

This section of the White Hall main road in St Mary collapsed Monday night during heavy rains. (Photo: Tyrone Charles)

He said, however, that the roadways from Grandy Hole to Golden Valley, Rio Nuevo to Lambkin Hill and Montreal to Top Derry in St Mary remained impassable. The White Hall main road in the parish was also impassable.

Shaw said heavy equipment was working to get the Grandy Hole and Rio Nuevo roadways reopened by last night.
The NWA spokesman said sections of the Montreal and White Hall main roads which had collapsed would require a medium-to-long-term solution. "A detour route has been created for the White Hall main road, while efforts will be made over the next few days to carry out temporary works on the Montreal corridor," said Shaw.

In Portland, the roadway from Seaman's Valley to Millbank, which was affected by a breakaway, was impassable up to last night, marooning over 2,000 persons. ". Efforts are now being made to engineer a temporary solution for the persons who use this roadway, which is without an alternative route," said Shaw.

Transport and Works Minister Lester 'Mike' Henry, responding to a desperate call from East Portland Member of Parliament Dr Donald Rhodd, said arrangements are to be made for emergency repair works to the damaged roads.

"I'm meeting tomorrow morning with the Finance Ministry to assess the position but I must remind the Opposition that I hope that if I sign for emergency contracts below $10 million it will not be questioned," Henry said.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, speaking briefly on the matter, said "the situation would have to dealt with as quickly as possible".

In the meantime, the NWA said it would continue to monitor the stretch of road from Balcaress to Wakefield where landslides have been repeatedly blocking the road over the past few days.