Concerns Raised Over Safety of Melvin Hill Bridge in St. Joseph by Local Residents

Some St Joesph residents want Melvin Hill Bridge repaired as soon as possible.

They made that plea yesterday as they expressed fear about the safety of the overpass and the implications a permanent closure would have for the area and motorists who use it to travel to sections of St Andrew.

Dexter Marshall was among those who shared his concern yesterday, days after officials from the Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources (MTWW) reduced the road to a single lane.

“If this bridge goes, may the Lord be with us. A lot of people pass here because there are many places of business and people need to get home.

“[MTWW] use this road every day, buses drive through often and the Shorey [Village] bus had to be diverted to come through here, which we are glad for, but if it goes . . . nobody would want to have to drive all around Bathsheba to get here,” Marshall said.

He said that because there were problems with other bridges in the parish and St Andrew, the road was used more frequently.

He acknowledged that the authorities did step in but suggested more should have been done to ensure the bridge was in decent condition. “It was blocked off on Saturday but it was in this condition for years, so the entire bridge needs fixing. It wants something doing with and real urgent,” Marshall added. (TG)