Residents of Free Town and surrounding communities will have a full interchange to access Highway 2000 East-West in early 2025.

TransJamaican Highway Limited (TJH) Managing Director Ivan Anderson detailed the improvement plans at a town hall meeting at the Free Town Primary School.

He explained that residents of Longville, Free Town, Aviary, New Harbour Phase 4 and Sandy Bay currently cannot access the westbound highway to May Pen. He also acknowledged that there is no way to access these communities when travelling eastbound for residents who work in May Pen.

“It is in the continued assessment of the highway, and after receiving many requests from the communities, that we will be implementing these ramps,” Anderson said after acknowledging the lobbying from stakeholdersm including William Shagoury, chair of the Toll Authority Board and former Custos Rotulorum of Clarendon.

Roadwork for the two new access ramps to Highway 2000 East-West will start in June 2024, undertaken by China Harbour Engineering and Construction.

Anderson stated that contractors will construct two ramps on the Old Harbour Road (A2) roadway. The westbound entry will be parallel to the existing exit at HiPro Feeds Factory and the eastbound exit ramp will be built parallel to the existing eastbound entry ramp.

TJH said the works will include upgrading a section of A2 and the area of the Highway at the interchange.

“There will be no tolls on the ramps. The people travelling further eastbound would pay a toll at May Pen; however, there would be no tolls at this exit at Free Town. Similarly, there would be no tolls to get on the Highway going Westbound at Freetown; however, tolls would be payable at May Pen.”

He further stated that road users entering eastbound to Old Harbour will not be required to pay tolls on entry or exit. Similarly, those entering westbound at Old Harbour will not have to pay tolls on entry or exit at Free Town. 

The improvement works will also include increasing the number of lanes at the Vineyards Toll Plaza.

The project is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2025.