Kingston, Jamaica — 16 March 2026
As Jamaica continues recovery efforts following the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa last October, experts are urging that the rebuilding of the island’s damaged roads must prioritise climate resilience and safer design, warning that simply restoring what was lost could leave communities vulnerable to the next major storm.
Large sections of Jamaica’s transportation network were damaged or washed away during the hurricane, cutting off rural districts and coastal communities and exposing weaknesses in how key infrastructure has historically been planned and maintained.
Preliminary assessments from the Inter-American Development Bank estimated overall physical damage at approximately US$8.8 billion. Of that figure, around 62 per cent related to residential and commercial buildings, while about 33 per cent involved infrastructure damage, including roads, bridges, and transport corridors.
While much of the public conversation has focused on restoring mo…
