Government Pushes Ahead With 55-Bridge Programme

Kingston, Jamaica, 23 June 2026

The Government is working on 55 bridges across the island under an Accelerated Bridge Programme. Works Minister Robert Morgan told Parliament that no previous holder of the portfolio had taken on bridge work on this scale.

Mr Morgan, who has ministerial responsibility for works, set out the plan during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate. He described bridges as the links that complete the road network, and said they are vital for public safety, disaster resilience and economic activity.

Emergency structures added

The revised programme now includes seven emergency bridges, meant to restore urgent connections while the wider replacement effort continues. According to the minister, the technical offer for the programme has been submitted, and negotiations and final approvals are expected within the coming weeks.

He stressed that the work cannot be rushed at the expense of safety. Each structure needs design work, environmental assessment, geotechnical study, fabrication, installation and traffic management before it can open.

Recent openings

Several projects have already moved forward this month. Troy Bridge, which links Manchester with Trelawny, reopened on 5 June, and the Spring Village Bridge in St Catherine was officially opened on 12 June. Work is continuing on the Craigmill Bridge in Portland.

Built for harsher weather

Mr Morgan said the new structures must be able to cope with stronger floods, heavier rain and more extreme weather. He pointed to Hurricane Melissa, when damaged bridges cut off whole communities, and summed up his approach with a simple line: “bridge resilience is road resilience”.

What it means for homeowners and buyers

For families in rural districts, a single washed-out crossing can mean long detours to reach work, school, shops or a clinic, and it can make people wary of buying or building in an area. Dependable, climate-resilient bridges help protect the value of homes and land in these communities and make them easier to live in.

Buyers looking at property outside the main towns should check how a location is reached, including whether it relies on a crossing that is listed for repair or replacement. They should also keep an eye on progress as the programme’s approvals are finalised.