Mayor of Montego Bay in St James, Leeroy Williams says the long-awaited Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project gives hope for a brighter future for the city.

Thousands of road users will benefit from the project which will entail the construction of a 14.9-kilometre bypass of the city to ease traffic congestion affecting the area.

The project also includes rehabilitation of Barnett Street and West Green Avenue, construction of the Long Hill Bypass, as well as a drainage study.

A 274.5 million U-S dollar contract was signed between the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, last November for the project.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony now underway (July 16), Mayor Williams says he is embracing the new development.

Although there will be discomfort for a few months, Mayor Williams says the community is prepared to deal with this, for the long-term development of the area.