Two linked plans under the Ministry’s Floodwater Control and Mitigation Programme, to be implemented by NROCC: the Montego and Pye Rivers Flood Mitigation Plan (US$210 million) and the Montego Bay Comprehensive Drainage Plan (US$500 million), comprising a flood-control master plan covering 180 square kilometres and 13 watersheds and gullies draining through the city. The programme includes the removal of hydraulic bottlenecks, including the old arch bridge; channel lining and widening works along the Montego and Pye Rivers and their outfalls; scour protection measures; rainfall, river and storm surge monitoring systems; targeted risk-reduction plans for vulnerable communities; and the integration of updated flood mapping into land-use planning and emergency response. The programme is needed because Montego Bay, including Sangster International Airport, the hotel strip and the cruise port, experienced significant flooding from the Montego and Pye Rivers during Hurricane Melissa in October 2025.
Project overview
Investment opportunity
The programme is targeted at development banks, climate funds and resilience investors rather than traditional commercial investors. It will protect approximately 110,000 residents of Montego Bay and 175,000 residents of St James, as well as Sangster International Airport, the hotel strip, the cruise port and the new Montego Bay Perimeter Road. The programme aims to strengthen the resilience of assets and infrastructure that are critical to Jamaica’s tourism economy and the wider north-coast corridor. Partners are sought to fund hydrology and design studies and to support implementation through grant funding, concessional finance, climate finance, resilience bonds or blended finance structures. Potential financing sources include the Caribbean Development Bank, the Green Climate Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank and the Sustainable Markets Initiative accelerator for climate resilience projects. The programme forms part of Jamaica’s post-Hurricane Melissa reconstruction effort, with the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority providing an expedited route for approvals and procurement.
Investment types sought
Project status
Development stage
Concept
Current status / progress to date
The programme has been defined within the Ministry’s Floodwater Control and Mitigation Programme, and a post-Melissa flood assessment has been completed. The Montego Bay Comprehensive Drainage Study is identified as the first implementation priority. The estimated programme cost of US$710 million is a programme-level estimate and will be refined through detailed hydrology and design studies, which represent the next stage of project preparation.
Additional project information
- Lead agency
- National Road Operating and Constructing Company Limited (NROCC), for the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development
Expected impact
Jobs created / supported
The hydrology and design studies, followed by channel, outfall, bridge and drainage improvements across 13 watersheds, are expected to create employment in engineering, hydrology, construction, materials supply and community-based risk reduction activities across St James throughout the programme. Employment figures will be determined through the design studies.
Economic & development benefits
- Protects Sangster International Airport, the hotel strip and the cruise port, which form the core of Jamaica's tourism economy
- Protects the Montego Bay Perimeter Road and the wider north-coast transport corridor from flood damage
- Reduces the recurring costs of flood damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure in Montego Bay
- Provides updated flood mapping to support land-use planning and emergency response
- Increases investor confidence by strengthening the resilience of key infrastructure and development assets
Climate & resilience benefits
- Develops a flood-control master plan covering 180 square kilometres and 13 watersheds draining through Montego Bay
- Includes channel, outfall and scour protection works on the Montego and Pye Rivers
- Strengthens early warning capabilities through rainfall, river and storm surge monitoring systems
- Delivers targeted flood-risk reduction measures for vulnerable communities
- Supports improved land-use planning and emergency response through updated flood mapping
Contact
Contact team
For more information about this project, please contact the Commonwealth Investment Platform team.