Prime Minister Andrew Holness says efforts are being made to increase the pace of the rehabilitation work on the St. Thomas leg of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project, SCHIP.

He made the disclosure during a tour of the roadway, Thursday.

Noting that the pace of work being done on the Albion to Port Antonio roadway has not proceeded as planned, Mr. Holness acknowledged that the project is behind the original completion timelines.

He said to remedy this, the pace of the work will be increased.

The prime minister is hopeful that the project will be completed within 8 to 12 months.

Noting that the works have caused some level of discomfort and dislocation for residents, Mr. Holness has urged them to exercise patience.

He promised that the work will be closely monitored.

Construction on the SCHIP began in January 2017 and is being executed in three parts, with the St. Thomas leg forming two of the three parts.

The project is being carried out by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, with funding from the government and the China Exim Bank.