The Ministry of Transport, Works, and Housing is slated to construct a new two-lane bridge at Pear Tree River in Eastern St Thomas, at a cost of approximately $49.5 million.

The new structure, to be built over the next six months, will replace the existing Harbour Head Bridge, which was erected in 1889, and has fallen into disrepair.

Its replacement, to be funded from the Ministry's Capital 'A' Budget, results from representation made by health minister and Eastern St Thomas Member of Parliament Dr Fenton Ferguson, who underscored the "clear and present danger" which the existing bridge poses for motorists and pedestrians traversing it.

The single-lane Harbour Head Bridge, which also serves residents of Golden Grove, Port Morant, and parish capital Morant Bay, was declared unfit for use by the National Works Agency (NWA), which is implementing the project.

State Minister for Transport, Works, and Housing, Richard Azan was on hand to witness the signing of contracts by chief technical director (housing) in the ministry, Doreen Prendergast; NWA Chief Executive Officer E.G. Hunter; and managing director for Alcar Construction and Haulage Company Limited, which will execute the works, Junior Leslie, during a ceremony at Pear Tree River Methodist Church on Friday.

Azan underscored the importance of and need for the bridge's replacement, having viewed its current state first-hand.