THE National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC) says Highway 2000 has the potential to add three per cent to the country's GDP in the long term.
That is, of course, dependent on how it can support tourism and manufacturing and whether Jamaica can position itself as the world's fourth logistics hub.
Highway 2000 has the potential to add three per cent to the country’s GDP in the long-term, says the National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC).
"The projects are part of a comprehensive plan which includes the redevelopment of the nation's main arterial roads, and the rehabilitation of the secondary and tertiary road network," said Ivan Anderson, Managing Director, NROCC. "The plan also includes the completion of the remaining phases of Highway 2000 that will connect the island intricately to the major economic points in order to facilitate the effective movement of goods and services for trade."
To date, government has completed the Mandela to May Pen and the Portmore legs of the Toll Road, as well as the North Coast Highway from Negril to Port Antonio which serves to connect the resort towns along the north coast. And, the highway to link the country's north and south coasts, including the Mount Rosser bypass, is currently being built.
Speaking to members of the Jamaican Diaspora at the 10th JN Outlook for the Future fora, organised by the Jamaica National Building Society, held in New York and Toronto earlier this month, Anderson explained that the development of the north-south segment of Highway 2000 from Spanish Town to Ocho Rios should cost approximately US$601 million ($61.3 billion).
"The Government of Jamaica will provide no loan guarantees, revenue or traffic guarantees, neither will the government provide loans or equity in the project," he said. "The developer will finance the completion of Mount Rosser as part of the concession; and they will refund NROCC for its expenditure of US$120 million (J$12.2 billion) to date."
He stated that the north-south segment of the highway will not only allow for connectivity between the north tourism development and the south coast, but provide opportunities for further tourist development along the alignment.
"In addition to the highway, NROCC will also provide five square kilometres of land owned by the Government along the alignment to provide for further commercial, hotel and residential development to be undertaken by the developer," said Anderson, who believes that, as a result, there are opportunities for residential development in prime areas, such as Moneague and Golden Grove in St Ann and Ewarton, Spanish Town and Caymanas in St Catherine; as well as agricultural development in places such as Worthy Park, also in St Catherine.
"It's not wealth that developed our roads but roads that developed our wealth," the NROCC managing director added. "Although Jamaica is strategically located, within the Caribbean and Latin America region, it cannot become an effective global logistics hub without the road infrastructure to support the necessary movement of goods and services for trade.
"We have to build the right infrastructure to achieve our objectives."
That is, of course, dependent on how it can support tourism and manufacturing and whether Jamaica can position itself as the world's fourth logistics hub.
Highway 2000 has the potential to add three per cent to the country’s GDP in the long-term, says the National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC).
   Highway 2000 has the potential to add three per cent to the country’s GDP in the long-term, says the National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC). #slideshowtoggler, #slideshowtoggler a, #slideshowtoggler img {filter:none !important;zoom:normal !important}  1/1  |
To date, government has completed the Mandela to May Pen and the Portmore legs of the Toll Road, as well as the North Coast Highway from Negril to Port Antonio which serves to connect the resort towns along the north coast. And, the highway to link the country's north and south coasts, including the Mount Rosser bypass, is currently being built.
Speaking to members of the Jamaican Diaspora at the 10th JN Outlook for the Future fora, organised by the Jamaica National Building Society, held in New York and Toronto earlier this month, Anderson explained that the development of the north-south segment of Highway 2000 from Spanish Town to Ocho Rios should cost approximately US$601 million ($61.3 billion).
"The Government of Jamaica will provide no loan guarantees, revenue or traffic guarantees, neither will the government provide loans or equity in the project," he said. "The developer will finance the completion of Mount Rosser as part of the concession; and they will refund NROCC for its expenditure of US$120 million (J$12.2 billion) to date."
He stated that the north-south segment of the highway will not only allow for connectivity between the north tourism development and the south coast, but provide opportunities for further tourist development along the alignment.
"In addition to the highway, NROCC will also provide five square kilometres of land owned by the Government along the alignment to provide for further commercial, hotel and residential development to be undertaken by the developer," said Anderson, who believes that, as a result, there are opportunities for residential development in prime areas, such as Moneague and Golden Grove in St Ann and Ewarton, Spanish Town and Caymanas in St Catherine; as well as agricultural development in places such as Worthy Park, also in St Catherine.
"It's not wealth that developed our roads but roads that developed our wealth," the NROCC managing director added. "Although Jamaica is strategically located, within the Caribbean and Latin America region, it cannot become an effective global logistics hub without the road infrastructure to support the necessary movement of goods and services for trade.
"We have to build the right infrastructure to achieve our objectives."