News

Traffic lights cause chaos

This has been the scene of a number of minor accidents at the intersection of the Spanish Town bypass and the Dunbeholden road near the Tamarind Farm prison, in St. Catherine. Traffic lights at this intersection have not been working for some time now. - RICARDO MAKYN

THE MALFUNCTIONING 'BRAIN' of traffic lights at the Dumbeholden and Salt Pond Road intersection along Spanish Town bypass has been the cause of over seven weeks of chaos, despite police intervention.

"The traffic lights at the Spanish Town Bypass and the Dumbeholden Road has been out of use for the past couple of weeks. It's a very critical area to have proper traffic control there. As a result of that, because of the volume of traffic that uses that roadway, we have been having a number of minor accidents in that area resulting in damages to motor vehicles," Inspector Patrick Murdock, sub officer with responsibility for traffic, St. Catherine North.

Sergeant Stanley Gardener sub officer in charge of traffic, Spanish Town told THE STAR there had been about nine accidents since the traffic lights stopped working. Although most had been minor, he said there were two major ones, which led to injury and hospitalisation of the victims. Gardener also mentioned that other traffic lights along the Bypass malfunction at intervals.

Although the police have been aiding the National Works Agency, the body responsible for maintenance of the lights, by directing traffic, they agreed that as it stands, it is very dangerous. Taxi operators who ply the Spanish Town to Portmore route via Dumbeholden echoed this concern.

Unfortunately, however, nothing can be done about the problem until a new controller is imported for the lights. According to Petra-Kene Williams, acting manager of communication and customer services department, NWA, the agency is currently sourcing the part, not available locally. The controller, or brain, is responsible for timing of the signals.

In the meantime, the NWA has development plans for the bypass which has already begun. Under the Kuwait Fund Assisted Road Rehabilitation Programme new drains will be constructed, existing drains cleaned, and damaged culverts replaced. The road will be resurfaced and overhead traffic signals installed. This project is expected to be completed by mid-August.