Construction to begin on US$285mn tollroad extension

Jamaica's government is set to kick off construction of a 10km extension for the Highway 2000 initiative, which connects capital Kingston with Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. The project will cost US$285mn and will funded by international lenders, the World Bank's International Finance Corporation ( IFC) said in a release. IDB, the European Investment Bank and IFC are each lending US$53.6mn, while French international funding agency Proparco is providing US$37.7mn for the project. IFC and Proparco are also contributing equity representing US$4.6mn and US$2.4mn, respectively. TransJamaican Highways will operate the project, which involves a four-lane tollroad between Sandy Bay and Four Paths west of Kingston and includes construction of two toll plazas and 18 bridges. The extension is being designed and built by Bouygues TP Jamaica and will take 23 months to complete, the release said.