The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

POLICE and government officials took to the streets yesterday to direct drivers still confused about traffic flow changes stemming from ongoing road works.

Shenique Albury, an environmental specialist with the New Providence Infrastructure Improvement Project (NPIIP), stressed that Baillou Hill Road is now northbound only, while the newly opened Market Street is southbound only.

"The Ministry of Works and Transport announced some time ago that we would be putting two-way traffic temporarily on Blue Hill Road during the construction at Market Street to help with congestion," Ms Albury said. "We have gotten construction on Market Street up to the point where we have reintroduced two lanes of southbound traffic. At the same time, we are now turning Baillou Hill back into two lanes of northbound traffic."

Noting that this was a "significant change", Ms Albury called on drivers to be vigilant while travelling in the area.

"What this is going to mean for drivers is, it's going to be a change in their daily traffic route, particularly for persons who use the area on a regular basis.

"You will have to keep in mind at all times that there has been a major change. Some of the cross corners that we use in between Market Street and Baillou Hill Road, we will not be able to make the same movements that we've been making before, because of the change of either northbound or southbound traffic."

She also called for drivers to pay attention to posted traffic signs that will alert them if they are driving in the wrong direction on a one-way street.

"We want people to heed traffic signs. We have quite a challenge with persons driving past signs that are giving them key, vital information without them taking any notice of it," Ms Albury said.

"At this time with so many changes in the road, it's important that people pay attention to all signage that is put in place for their safety."

The Tribune saw five drivers heading in the wrong direction on the newly-changed Baillou Hill Road yesterday morning. One, named Erica, said: "I saw people turning this way, so I came this way too - I didn't know about the changes on the road."

She said she was a frequent user of Baillou Hill Road, as her brother lived in the area.

Erica said she did not notice the signs telling drivers they were heading in the wrong direction.

"Once I get to find out whether it's one or two ways, I can deal with it - but it's confusing, very confusing," she said.