Portland councillors say single-lane bridge poses grave danger
PORT ANTONIO, Portland — Councillors on both sides of the Portland Municipal Corporation agreed on at least one thing at Thursday’s monthly meeting: the Christmas River Bridge along the southern coastal highway is dangerous.
The issue was first raised by Councillor Wayne Mckenzie (PNP, Prospect Division) and quickly gained support.
While he welcomed the ongoing roadwork, he blasted the State-run National Works Agency (NWA) for failing to think the project through.
“My greatest concern… is that this lovely development has a serious short-sightedness that has taken place along the corridor. I don’t know how it happened,” said Mckenzie.
“The Christmas River Bridge between Kensington and Manchioneal is a single-lane bridge on a major expansion of road that will not be taken out; it is an embarrassment!” he added.
The councillor maintained that the bridge had long posed a dangerous but is even now more of a hazard.
“Imagine when they improve the road and persons flying from both sides and suddenly meet up on that narrow bridge. We should never have a situation like that. So I urge the powers that be to immediately put [a fix for] the Christmas
River Bridge into action, taking it out and making a broader bridge for safe travel,” Mckenzie urged.
He had sought clarification from NWA Communications Manager Stephen Shaw during a recent meeting, he said, and was advised “there is no immediate plan”.
Mayor Paul Thompson (JLP, Manchioneal Division) agreed that the issue was troubling while Councillor Stephen Williams (JLP, St Margaret’s Bay Division) pointed out that there was another matter that also needed urgent attention.
“I agree and… the box culvert at Anchovy... needs to be dealt with,” he said.
Councillor Mckenzie wanted it noted that he was officially asking for the matter at Christmas River Bridge to be addressed.
“We need some action on it. I raised it the other day and I really want to raise it officially so that we can have some action immediately. Because... it is going to be one of the greatest accident prone areas in the entire length and breadth of the road,” he appealed.