THE Bog Walk gorge is to close for two months, beginning at the end of March, to facilitate pipe-laying works by the National Water Commission (NWC).
The announcement was made yesterday by executives of the water company at a Think Tank at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) on Half-Way-Tree Road in Kingston.
According to Gary Walters, senior project manager at the NWC, the closure is necessary to undertake the work to improve water supply to several areas of the island, including Portmore and other parts of St Catherine, as well as in Kingston and St Andrew.
"We are currently approaching the stage where a full closure of the roadway is imminent. This is necessary for the safety of the motoring public and for the road crews," Walters explained.
He pointed out that the work is now at a stage where the public and the road crew -- who are using heavy equipment -- would be coming in contact around a deep bend in the road and at narrow sections of the gorge, situations which would expose both parties to extreme danger. He also said that the work is also approaching several areas which are known for precariously poised boulders, posing an additional danger to all.
"There are times when rocks come down from the cliffs," he added.
Walters reminded the public that there are two frequently used alternative routes to the Bog Walk gorge, through Sligoville and Barry. He pointed out that signs will be erected to instruct drivers long before they approach the gorge, which will be fully closed, except to persons who live in the Kent Village community that is located in the area. These residents, he said, will be allowed access from one direction only, which will effectively close the area to other motorists who have in the past ignored warnings when the gorge is officially closed
"The NWC is aware that these routes are not in the best of condition and we have been given a proposal from the National Works Agency (NWA) to get them into suitable driving condition and we will be putting that in place," Walters said.
Last night, Stephen Shaw, director of communication and customer services at the NWA, said that the agency was aware of the pending closure.
"It's an NWC project that there is some amount of collaboration on, so we have been having ongoing discussion with them," Shaw told the Observer.
