Government Adds $1.5 Billion to Islandwide GO Road Rehabilitation Push Running to December

Repairs to main roads in every corner of Jamaica are being stepped up and are set to run until December 2026 under the Government's Islandwide GO Road Rehabilitation Programme.

An additional $1.5 billion has been approved by Cabinet to fund the effort, money earmarked for urgent fixing of national roads, with western Jamaica and other corridors needing immediate attention singled out for emphasis.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, said the volume of roadwork will climb sharply once contractors mobilise and signed contracts reach full implementation.

“The contracts have been signed, and the work is ramping up. Jamaicans will see significantly more road rehabilitation activity between now and December, with particular attention being given to heavily travelled main roads, school routes and corridors that are important to public transportation and economic activity,” Minister Morgan said.

Work under the programme covers rehabilitation of road surfaces, pavement repairs in specific spots, targeted resurfacing, asphaltic sheeting, and putting right damaged shoulders and edge breaks.

Which roads get done first will be decided by the National Works Agency (NWA) using technical assessments, road-safety risks, traffic volumes, strategic importance and how badly a road has deteriorated.

“With the new school year approaching, we will place special focus on main roads used by students, school buses and public-transport operators. We want the daily journey to and from school to be safer and more reliable,” Minister Morgan said.

The push comes after Hurricane Melissa inflicted widespread damage in October 2025 and long spells of heavy rainfall followed, hastening the breakdown of pavement and taking a toll on road infrastructure countrywide.

“This is not a one-week or one-month exercise. It is a sustained islandwide rehabilitation programme that will continue through December alongside works being undertaken through SPARK, the Special Capital Expenditure Programme and other national infrastructure initiatives,” Minister Morgan added.

The NWA is charged with running the programme and carrying out inspections so that contractors meet the required standards. Any work falling short will have to be redone by the contractor responsible.

Attention will be given to main roads that the NWA maintains, since the bulk of community roads, among them residential avenues, lanes and crescents, are the responsibility of the municipal corporations.

Drivers are being urged to take care, follow traffic-management instructions and expect short delays in areas where rehabilitation work is going on.