Infrastructure

The lack of state funds for public spending has severly hampered development of the country's infrastructure outside of the north coast. Travel by car or truck is difficult, for there are few well-kept roads or two-lane highways anywhere. The roads have struggled to cope with the increase in car use since the government relaxed rules on the import of environmentally outmoded Japanese cars known locally as 'deportees'. For the rural society, the buses are woefully inadequate and because of poor road conditions are overpriced. On the other hand metropolitan areas have recently become better equipped to handle the population increase. The once existent railroad track that was 229 miles long, has disappeared due to years of neglect. Plans are currently on stream to rebuild the track, as Jamaicans are finding it extremely difficult to cope with traffic congestion.   Montego Bay | Table of Contents | Geography | Urban Structure | Economy | Culture | Pictures | Bibliography | World Urbanization Homepage | Macalester Homepage