Chat-bout.net - Gov't, Bouygues to meet on renaming of highway

Gov't, Bouygues to meet on renaming of highway

GOVERNMENT is to meet with officials of French construction company Bouygues Travaux Publics, to decide on which leg of the Highway 2000 is to be renamed in honour of sprint sensation Usain Bolt.

An aerial view of a section of the Portmore-leg of Highway 2000. (Observer file photo)

Bouygues Travaux Publics, the second-largest civil work company in the world, is part-owner of the expressway and has a 35-year concession agreement on its development.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced that the highway was to be renamed in honour of Bolt following his extraordinary performance on the tracks.

The PM also said Bolt, 23, the world 100 and 200-metre record holder, was to be accorded with the Order of Jamaica - the nation's fourth-highest honour, making him the youngest-ever recipient of the award.

On Thursday, Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry disclosed that a number of "outstanding issues" had to be fine-tuned before the road is renamed.

"Several discussions were to be held with the prime minister as there were several issues to be fine tuned regarding the move," Henry said at a press conference at his ministry on Maxfield Avenue in Kingston without delving into details.

He, however, brushed aside speculations that no discussion was held between Bouygues and the Government before Tuesday's announcement.

"I have been in discussions with the chairman of the Transport Toll Authority ever since the overall thing... I have put everything in his hand to keep in touch and he is meeting with them (Bouygues)...," said Henry yesterday.

Highway 2000, a 230-kilometre tolled expressway links Kingston, Jamaica's capital, with Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, passing through St Catherine, Manchester, St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, and St Ann. - jamaicaobserver

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