2,000 roads will be renovated as part of the $40 billion SPARK project.
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| A 2022 Loop file photo of roadwork in St Thomas. |
Jamaica’s roadways will be renovated as part of a $40 billion government effort.
The program, Shared Prosperity via Accelerated Improvement to Our Road Network (SPARK), will be implemented throughout the island.
Dr. Nigel Clarke, Minister of Finance and the Public Service declared during his opening statement to the 2023–24 Budget Debate on Tuesday.
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| Minister of Finance and the Public Service Dr. Nigel Clarke speaks during the 2023-34 Budget Debate o Tuesday while Minister of National Security Dr. Horace Chang listens attentively. (Photo: Marlon Reid) |
Using the subject “Modernising Our Roads for Our Shared Prosperity,” Clarke indicated that the SPARK initiative will be carried out over a three-year period, with project development beginning in the fiscal year 2023/24 and execution occurring in the fiscal years that follow.
The SPARK initiative is a component of the government’s multifaceted plan to address decades of underfunding for our country’s roads, enhance road safety, and spur economic growth by repairing severely degraded public infrastructure. The nation’s enterprises, industries, and citizens are all connected by the road system, which serves as the foundation of our economy, according to Clarke.
He bemoaned the fact that decades of underinvestment had had a negative impact on the country’s highways, causing bad road conditions, heavy traffic, and traffic accidents.
“In light of recent traffic fatalities and the poor condition of our roads, the GOJ views this action as urgent. The figures on traffic fatalities are shocking, and as a government, it is our duty to take steps to ease the strain on our healthcare system. According to Clarke, enhancing road infrastructure will have a positive impact on both road safety and the economy.
Several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that address the development of high-quality, dependable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transnational infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being are directly impacted by the project, according to the official, who also noted that the project is in line with the Government’s policy objectives.
The minister emphasized that although the SPARK initiative would not be based on constituencies, elected officials will have the chance to provide input and represent their areas. While subsidiary roads would be the main emphasis, he said that some large highways and thoroughfares also need maintenance in order to lower the chance of traffic accidents.
The SPARK project will rebuild 2,000 roads across the whole island.
