Falmouth traffic light deadline missed

Western Bureau:

The promise by the National Works Agency (NWA) to have traffic lights installed at the problematic North Coast Highway-Daniel Town intersection near Falmouth in Trelawny by the end of April has not materialised, leaving the much feared ‘black spot’ as a significant threat to motorists and pedestrians alike.

In mid-March, E.G. Hunter, chief executive officer of the NWA, said funding had been made available for the installation of the lights and the plan was to have them in place by April 30.

DELAY

When The Gleaner spoke to Hunter last week about the agency’s failure to install the lights, he responded by saying, “Delayed but not denied. The $15 million, had to be sourced, a tender had to be put out, and then a contract awarded.”

While not giving any firm timelines, Hunter said everything should be in place for work on the project to start in early May. Should Hunter’s words come to fruition, it would be music to the ears of the many motorists who find the intersection quite treacherous.

Assistant Commissioner of police Calvin Allen, head of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch, recently gave the intersection ‘black spot’ designation during a visit to Falmouth.

“Once two or more deaths occur at any one spot, the area is designated a ‘black spot’,’ said Allen, who urged motorists to be extra cautious when traversing that area.

In January, there was a crash at the location which resulted in the deaths of two men. Indications are that a motorist failed to stop at the intersection and ran into a vehicle travelling along the highway.

Both Falmouth’s mayor, Councillor Colin Gager, and Victor Wright, member of parliament for North Trelawny, have endorsed the plan for the installation of the traffic lights.