The Tribune

By DANA SMITH dsmith@tribunemedia.net PRINCE Charles Drive will open in sections as the New Providence Road Improvement Project moves further west, according to Ministry of Works officials. Drivers were left frustrated yesterday as the closure of a portion of the road led to lengthy traffic delays. Prince Charles Drive is closed between College Gardens Road and Winters Road, meaning drivers must divert through Beatrice Avenue, Sea Breeze Lane or Fox Hill Road. Spokesperson Shenique Albury said the ministry does realise there has been "some inconvenience", but added that staff are "working as hard and diligently as they can". "We understand there has been some levels of frustration from motorists, but we're making every effort to keep it on track so we can keep up the good progress," Ms Albury said. She explained that this portion of Prince Charles Drive is "critical" to the road improvement project, but said they are currently working on the last section that requires major diversions. "Once we get beyond that, we feel that we will be able to use a diversion scheme that is not as lengthy," she said. Ms Albury also pointed out that yesterday's closing of the Prince Charles Drive entrance to St Augustine's College was for one day only. The work on Prince Charles Drive consists of widening the road area, constructing underground utility ducts, and repaving the entire road. Water mains, drainage systems and ducts for BTC, BEC, and Cable Bahamas are all currently being placed underground. Once this is completed, the above ground construction will begin. "We're working in phases," Ms Albury said. "We're doing layers and layers and all of this takes time. The project is still on target to be fully completed by summer." On Wednesday, Ms Albury said: "We have now gotten to the point where we have crossed the halfway mark. We are not working in as many areas and most of these areas have gotten up to the first level of asphalt."