Roadworks and the Disabled

In Brian Bonith’s article “Barbican Blues” published in the Jamaica Observer on 1 June 2018, it was reported that the Executive Director of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities – Dr. Christine Hendericks – had written to the National Works Agency (NWA) on the previous month “ to express her organization’s concern that “the needs of people with disabilities were not taken into consideration” with regard to the Barbican Road Improvement Project.

In response, NWA’s Communication and Customer Services Manager - Steven Shaw – had refuted their concerns stating that “the disabled community’s concerns were taken into consideration before construction” and invited the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities to meet with them on the matter. I have been unable to find any reports whether such a meeting took place and, if it did, whether a resolution was reached.

Nevertheless, these concerns remain relevant as roadworks, such as Constant Springs Road, seem to replicate the same design. Dr. Hendericks was specifically concerned that (i) the median was a challenge to the visually-impaired, and (ii) lips of the sidewalks were too high. Constant Springs roadworks have not progressed to construction of the latter yet, but her observation regarding the medians is still relevant.

Mr. Shaw had responded that crossing Barbican Road would be facilitated at signalized points. However, such points are few on Constant Springs compared to Barbican Road, not to mention the greater number of schools, apartment blocks, public and retail establishments that are located along Constant Springs Road. So, it would seem the matter is even more critical there.

It was Dr. Hendericks’ expressed desire that corrective measures be taken rather than have offending works continue “and then have to knock it down”. It would also be expected that NWA would see this as an opportunity to implement the 2014 Disabilities Act and display the government’s willingness and readiness to be compliant and, in so doing, provide the infrastructure needed for buildings along the roadway to become compliant.