Richard Azan | Jamaica’s road crisis: billions spent, but where are the results?

Jamaican motorists are fed up. Every day, they navigate pothole-ridden roads, sit for hours in traffic, and watch as their hard-earned tax dollars are wasted on patchwork solutions that never seem to last.

The government’s SPARK (Shared Prosperity Through Accelerated Road Improvement) and REACH programmes were supposed to improve our road infrastructure, yet the reality on the ground tells a different story – one of inefficiency, waste, and poor oversight.

WHEN WILL ROAD REPAIRS BE PRIORITISED?

The recent admission by Minister of Works Robert Morgan that supervision of the REACH (Relief Emergency Assistance and Community Help) programme has been inadequate is a glaring indictment on the government’s approach to road repairs. In a recent interview, the minister himself conceded: “No, it’s never good enough to be for the most part ... We had some challenges in the beginning.”

This is not just an admission of past mistakes; it reflects ongoing failures. If supervision has been lacking, then, how can taxpayers be sure they are getting value for their money? Why are we still seeing roads deteriorate mere months after being “fixed”? How many more billions will be funnelled into programmes that fail to deliver durable solutions?

The core issues plaguing Jamaica’s road repairs are clear:

• Poor oversight: Even then Minister admitted that contractors have been negligent – leaving potholes unfinished, using improper materials, and neglecting drainage issues.

• Inferior materials: Engineers have long warned that using marl instead of crushed aggregate for road patching leads to rapid deterioration. Why hasn’t the government enforced better material standards?

• Short-term fixes that cost more in the long run: Patching a pothole temporarily is not a solution. By then minister’s own admission, the same areas are being repaired multiple times, draining public funds without providing real improvements.

HELD HOSTAGE BY TRAFFIC AND POOR INFRASTRUCTURE

Jamaicans are not just dealing with bad roads; they are suffering because of them. Research shows that failing infrastructure contributes to mental health struggles, increased stress levels, and lost economic productivity. Sitting in traffic for hours every day takes a toll on workers, students, and businesses.

Economist Adrian Stokes recently pointed out: “Every hour lost in traffic is an hour lost in national productivity. Jamaica is falling behind because of poor infrastructure, and the government’s Band-Aid approach to road repairs is only making the problem worse.”

Motorists are also feeling the financial squeeze, with vehicle owners forced to spend thousands on repairs because of pothole damage. The government’s failure to prioritise sustainable road solutions is not just an inconvenience – it’s an economic burden that affects every Jamaican.

RURAL STRUGGLE

While urban centres bear the brunt of traffic congestion, rural communities face an equally dire crisis – roads that are impassable. Farmers struggle to transport their goods, children face difficulties getting to school, and businesses suffer from unreliable access to markets. The neglect of rural infrastructure deepens economic disparities, leaving many Jamaicans feeling abandoned by the very government that promised development and prosperity.

A resident of St Thomas lamented: “We are taxpayers, too, but our roads make it seem like we don’t matter. How can we grow as a community when we can’t even get proper roadways?”

If the government is serious about national development, it must address rural road conditions with the same urgency as urban highways. Investments in infrastructure must be equitable, ensuring that all Jamaicans, regardless of location, benefit from improved road networks.

WHERE IS THE OVERSIGHT?

The Jamaica Institution of Engineers and other professionals have repeatedly called for independent oversight of national road projects. Right now, the National Works Agency (NWA) both executes and oversees roadwork, a conflict of interest that has led to shoddy work going unchecked. This lack of transparency is unacceptable.

If Jamaica’s roads are ever to improve, we must demand:

• Full transparency and accountability: The government must publicly disclose contractor performance reports, material testing results, and project timelines.

• Independent engineering oversight: Road projects must be subject to third-party professional reviews, ensuring that quality standards are met.

• Long-term rehabilitation, not quick fixes: It’s time to stop patching the same potholes over and over and invest in proper, durable road construction.

• Public health and economic impact studies: The government must recognise the economic and mental health crisis caused by failing roads and implement policies to mitigate these effects.

• A renewed focus on public transportation: Strengthening the JUTC and making public transit a reliable alternative will reduce congestion and lessen the strain on our roads.

• Equitable infrastructure development: Rural and urban communities alike deserve safe, reliable roads that support economic growth and quality of life.

Jamaicans deserve better than wasteful spending, poor-quality work, and endless excuses. If SPARK and REACH are truly meant to improve our roadways, then they must be held to higher standards. The government must be held accountable for every dollar spent, every pothole patched, and every road resurfaced. Anything less is an insult to the people who pay the price every day – literally and figuratively.

Richard Azan is the opposition spokesperson on road and works. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com