The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

MINISTRY of Works and Transport officials announced yesterday the up-coming opening of two major roads and the closure of another as the New Providence Infrastructure Improvement Project rolls on.

Shenique Albury, an environmental specialist with the project, said the ministry hopes the re-opened roads will be a relief to frustrated drivers.

By the end of the week, the portion of Market Street between Duke Street and Robinson Road will be opened for two lanes of southbound traffic and by April 1, the entire length of Prince Charles Drive will be restored for two-way traffic.

However, Fox Hill Road South between Sandilands Village Road and Prince Charles Drive, near Blanco Bleach, will be closed starting Friday.

"We're just trying to get the message out to motorists that we are bringing the project to a close," Ms Albury said. "We're working as quickly as we can to do that but in the meantime, we have two new things coming on stream that's going to be bringing quite a relief to motorists who are impacted by the project."

She explained that with the opening of Prince Charles Drive, drivers no longer have to take diversions, but should still exercise caution as active construction is on-going.

"Also for persons travelling downtown and business owners in the Market Street area, the opening of Market Street again in its full length from Duke Street down to Wulff Road is good news and we're happy that we are sticking to our target," Ms Albury said.

"We told people that at the beginning of January we anticipated the opening of Market Street by the end of March, and we are going to achieve that target."

The Fox Hill Road South closure is to allow for underground work including the creation of utility ducts, traffic signal ducts, drainage, and water main tie-ins. The ministry expects the closure to last four to six weeks.

According to a release from the ministry, drivers heading north on Fox Hill Road South should divert through Sandilands Village Road, to Maria Avenue, Pine Barren Road, College Garden Road, and then onto Prince Charles Drive.

Or drivers can use Commonwealth Boulevard, which is the main entrance into Elizabeth Estates.

"The Ministry of Works and Transport would like to emphasise that despite road closures, local access is granted to residents and business patrons. The public is encourage to continue to support businesses that fall within a work area," the ministry said.

Ms Albury added: "The Ministry of Works does realise that this project has been an inconvenience to the motoring public, and the public in general, and we do apologise for that.

"We've tried as best as we can through our different traffic management schemes, as well as in communication of information, to try and make it a little bit easier for the motoring public. At this point we're trying to bring the project to a close as quickly as possible."