Kingston, Jamaica, 18 June 2026
More than 100 community roads have now been finished under the Government’s SPARK road rehabilitation programme, works minister Robert Morgan told Parliament on 17 June.
Speaking in the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate, Mr Morgan said that as of April 2026, 26 per cent of the roads chosen for the Shared Prosperity Through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network programme had been completed. Work has started on 210 roads and 109 are done.
Scale of the programme
SPARK is valued at $45 billion, including $5 billion set aside for water infrastructure. So far, nine work orders worth $18 billion have been issued, covering 369 community roads split across four packages. The minister called it one of the most ambitious road rehabilitation efforts by any government since Independence.
Built to last, with a guarantee
Roads under the programme are designed to last at least seven to 14 years. Contractors have two years to build, followed by a one-year defects liability period.
Mr Morgan said no road will be accepted by the Government unless an independent consultant has inspected and approved it. If faults later appear because of a contractor’s work, that contractor must return and repair the road. He said this is the first time parish and community roads have been held to such a standard.
The programme also includes better drainage, stronger pavement layers and closer co-ordination with utility companies.
Costs can rise when problems surface
Using Everest Drive in Kingston as an example, the minister explained that the job was first estimated at $70 million. Once work began, crews found that pipes also needed replacing, and disturbance to the hillside left some homes exposed. Retaining walls that were never in the original budget were built to protect residents. He said the Government accepted the higher bill because taxpayers were getting lasting value.
What it means for residents and property owners
Poor road access can make even a well-built house hard to sell, rent or insure, and it adds to the daily costs of households who rely on taxis and buses. Better community roads, particularly those with improved drainage, can help lift a neighbourhood’s appeal.
Homeowners on roads scheduled under SPARK should expect disruption while work is under way, and those whose property sits near cut slopes should raise any concerns with the contractor or the relevant agency early.
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