KINGSTON, Jamaica —The bus lay-by in the vicinity of the Half-Way-Tree clock tower in St Andrew is to be closed this evening to facilitate the replacement of defective drain gratings.

The National Works Agency (NWA) advised a short while ago that the closure, which is expected to last five days, is to take effect at 9 o’clock tonight.

Manager, Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw said the work will be undertaken in three steps, involving the removal of the damaged gratings, concrete works and installation of the new features.

The agency said it is critical that motor vehicles are restricted from accessing the area whilst the activities are ongoing in order to allow for the concrete to properly cure and to safeguard the integrity of the works.

Therefore, rural stage carriage operators who usually set down passengers at the location are being asked to use North Odeon Avenue instead, then proceed onto Eastwood Park Road and Courtney Walsh Drive (formerly Derrymore Road) to get back onto Constant Spring Road. The new arrangements will be monitored by the police and the Transport Authority.

The project, which is being undertaken at a cost of $1.1-million, forms part of a $27-million drainage improvement programme that the NWA is currently implementing at locations across the parishes of Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine and St Thomas.

Similar works have so far been completed at Diamond Avenue and Spanish Town Road, and Waltham Park Road, in St Andrew as well as Queen Street in Morant Bay, St Thomas.