NWA appeals to motorists, pedestrians to avoid Spring Mount breakaway in St James
/ Our Today
administrator
The National Works Agency (NWA) is advising motorcyclists and pedestrians to avoid a dangerous breakaway along a section of the Spring Mount road in St. James, to prevent putting themselves at risk.
Janel Ricketts, community relations officer for the NWA’s Western Office, explained that the corridor, which was “heavily damaged” during the October 28 passage of Hurricane Melissa, remains unstable and unsafe.
“The roadway is closed and persons have to be mindful that it is closed because it’s unsafe, so, they are really not to be traversing that area,” she said.
“That section was severely eroded and currently there is just a narrow strip of land there… right next to an approximately 30-foot drop off. During the storm, with the force of the water… all of that area was eroded,” she pointed out.
Despite the associated risks, Ricketts said that some persons have continued to use the corridor because “the alternative route is much longer”.
She warned, however, that “the area is still very much unstable and any… simple mistake or misadventure may result in loss of life or serious damage [or injuries].”
“It’s really a steep drop-off, so even though persons are using that area now and think that it is safe, it is really an unsafe practice,” she told JIS News, lamenting that individuals, including those with small children and motorcycle operators, have been seen traversing the dangerous section.
Ricketts said that restoring access to the main road will take time, noting that the agency is working to determine the most suitable engineering solution.
“We will need to pursue some geological assessment… to see the best solution based on the soil type and the extent of the damage,” she pointed out.
She reinforced the appeal for public safety.
“Avoid the broken-away section altogether. With the continuous rainfall that we’ve been having… that area is indeed unstable. Anything can happen at any time, and it is better to err on the side of caution,” she urged.
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