Summer Employment Programme Offers Unique Insight Into Construction Process
KINGSTON, August 8—Six engineering students from the Portmore Community College / University of Technology joint engineering programme have joined the contractors of Highway 2000, Bouygues Travaux Publics Jamaican Branch, in a summer employment programme. The six were chosen from a group of 14 that participated in a three-week summer internship programme in June. “I am happy that I am a part of this summer employment programme. It gives me the opportunity to experience and participate in road construction at an international level,” said student Dwayne Brown. “Having seen how our local roads were constructed, it is amazing to witness the extensive preparation and work that Bouygues puts into the construction of Highway 2000. This is undoubtedly a first for local road development.”
KINGSTON, August 8—Six engineering students from the Portmore Community College / University of Technology joint engineering programme have joined the contractors of Highway 2000, Bouygues Travaux Publics Jamaican Branch, in a summer employment programme. The six were chosen from a group of 14 that participated in a three-week summer internship programme in June. “I am happy that I am a part of this summer employment programme. It gives me the opportunity to experience and participate in road construction at an international level,” said student Dwayne Brown. “Having seen how our local roads were constructed, it is amazing to witness the extensive preparation and work that Bouygues puts into the construction of Highway 2000. This is undoubtedly a first for local road development.”
Dwayne’s classmate, Ramon Richards echoed those sentiments. “This experience has allowed me to understand and appreciate the kind of professionalism expected of a first-class worker. Time management at Bouygues is of great importance as the staff pushes you to ensure that time is managed properly. I am very fortunate to have participated in this programme.” John Metcalfe, Technical Manager, Bouygues Travaux Publics Jamaican Branch, said that the company has introduced them to the systems and procedures utilized in the construction of Highway 2000. The students are exposed to the complete operations, and are rotated throughout the six departments of the company.
“In addition, since three of these departments are based at the Portmore site office, students are provided with practical exposure to road construction,” he said. Though summer employees, the students form part of the construction team, which enables them to be involved in the critical areas of the project. They are active participants in the design and detailing process and are very involved in the technical aspects, including technical drawings, site inspections, and civil works currently underway in the construction of the Hunts Bay Bridge and the Portmore Toll Plaza.
Roxanne Campbell, the lone female participant said, “As a first year student, I was unaware of what field of study I should select as a major. However, this experience at Bouygues has provided some insight into Structural Engineering, which is very interesting. I am convinced that I want to complete my studies and return to Bouygues.” Work on the Portmore phase of Highway 2000 is on schedule.
The three interchanges are steadily taking shape and the main traffic diversion at Marcus Garvey Drive was opened to traffic in July to allow the construction of the Marcus Garvey Drive interchange. A 4-km stretch of the Dyke Road from Passage Fort Drive to the Portmore Interchange has been rehabilitated and is now open to the public.
The box culvert structure at Fort Augusta is complete and construction of the ramps will start in October. The box culvert structure at Dawkins Drive Interchange is also in progress and is expected to be complete later this month as construction of the ramps are scheduled to start in November. Construction on the toll building started in June. The Portmore Phase of Highway 2000 will complete by end of June 2006.
