Strengthening Jamaica’s Flat Bridge/Bog Walk Gorge Flood Early Warning System to Safeguard Lives
Rio Cobre River and Bog Walk Gorge Road
Steeped in mystique and history, the Rio Cobre River meanders through lush green valleys and the narrow Bog Walk Gorge on its 50-mile journey to the Caribbean Sea. This river, with an estimated drainage area of 646 square kilometres, forming part of Jamaica’s third-largest watershed, is essential to life on the island. It provides vital resources for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use, supporting over half a million people.
The 6.9-kilometre Bog Walk Gorge also serves as a critical corridor, linking Jamaica’s southern region and the capital, Kingston, to the tourist hub of the north coast via the iconic 200-year-old Flat Bridge. While the Edward Seaga Highway, opened in 2016, offers an alternative route, the Bog Walk Gorge remains a crucial connection for the many communities that depend on it daily.
A Treacherous Lifeline
As picturesque as it is perilous, the Bog Walk Gorge’s unique topography makes it particularly prone to flooding. This vulnerability places the 19,000 vehicles and hundreds of pedestrians traversing the route each day at significant risk of being trapped by rapidly rising floodwaters during intense rainfall.
To mitigate these dangers, an automated Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) was installed to prevent the use of the Flat Bridge and Bog Walk Gorge during critical periods. The system alerts nearby communities, enhancing public safety and supporting economic resilience. However, over time, the flood monitoring and data transmission networks became inoperable due to issues such as lightning damage to the repeater antenna and inadequate density of monitoring stations, reducing the accuracy and timeliness of warnings.
“This is a narrow gorge with the main road and the river being at close elevation all though the gorge. In the past there has been significant loss of property and even loss of life as unsuspecting or foolhardy persons attempted to traverse the road while the river was in spate and rising waters presented danger."
Real-Time Monitoring for Enhanced Safety
In response, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) partnered with Jamaica’s Water Resources Authority (WRA) in 2017 to restore the FEWS and strengthen the WRA’s capacity to deliver real-time data for flood warnings.
Central to Jamaica’s flood management efforts, the WRA has been collecting hydrological data since 1955, monitoring water levels at over 100 river gauging stations and groundwater sites across the island. In collaboration with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the WRA also supports flood mitigation by providing technical guidance, producing floodplain maps, and designating flood control areas.
With financing of approximately €220,000 from funds allocated under the African, Caribbean, and Pacific-European Union Natural Disaster Risk Management in CARIFORUM Countries Programme, the CDB provided technical assistance to upgrade and expand the flood monitoring system for the Bog Walk Gorge.
"Since the commissioning of the System, the FEWS has been working very well since it triggers the closure of the roadway whenever the river rises to threatening levels; there has not been any instance of loss of life or property. Stakeholder agencies including the ODPEM, National Works Agency, Jamaica Constabulary Force and the public now traverse the corridor with greater confidence and much less trepidation that they are driving into a trap.”
Lessons in Resilience for the Caribbean
As flood hazards become more frequent, Jamaica’s experience with the Flat Bridge/Bog Walk Gorge Flood Early Warning System offers valuable lessons on leveraging advanced technologies for effective flood management.
“In our region, we really need to put more efforts to use science to inform planning and decision-making. This is why CDB is stepping up to mobilise resources and partner with entities like the WRA to ensure continuous hydrological data collection, strengthen data analysis, and flood forecasting capabilities, and raise community awareness about flood risks for timely and effective responses. We believe in building resilient people for a resilient and prosperous Caribbean."
CDB Investing to Create a More Resilient Caribbean
This initiative is just one example of how CDB’s investments are contributing to a more resilient future across its borrowing member countries and its broad and ongoing commitment to sustainable development across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.
In addition to flood management, the Bank has also funded projects that strengthen climate resilience and adaptation, as well as agricultural ventures and protection for children in state care, demonstrating a broad commitment to sustainable development across Jamaica.
The Edward Seaga Highway opened in 2016 but 19,000 vehicles still traverse the Gorge daily
