Mandeville traffic changes causing frustration

By Racquel Porter    

 

Eleven months after a $75 million traffic improvement programme was implemented by the National Works Agency in Mandeville, Mayor Donovan Mitchell is calling for it to be reversed.

 

Mr. Mitchell says the changes, especially on Caledonia Road, are causing more harm than good.

 

Caledonia Road, which operated as a two-way corridor, has been converted to a one-way stretch from the direction of Scotiabank to the New Green Road intersection.

 

The section of Manchester Road, between Scotiabank and Sinclair's Bargain Centre, was also converted into a one-way stretch.

 

Mr. Mitchell laments that this has caused severe traffic pile up. 

 

"Persons coming out of the shopping centre, going uptown, have to go all the way back to Caledonia Road and come uptown. The problem we're having these days is that three times per day, or even four times per day, the traffic along Main Street here is backed up. When I'm going to my office in the morning, sometimes it takes me 45 minutes," he complained. 

 

Mr. Mitchell said the issue is the result of a deviation from the original discussions for one-way traffic along Caledonia Road to run from north to south.  

 

"But they have configured it to run from south to north. Apart from the traffic that is being developed on this road, it means that every single traffic coming into Mandeville, who don't have to go into the town but have to do business on Caledonia Road, have to come all the way into the town," he explained. 

 

Another change under the plan is the opening of the median along Main Street to allow traffic from North Race Course Road and at Villa Road.

 

Mr. Mitchell said this has caused flooding. 

 

Meanwhile, Shirley Johnson, President of the Central Manchester Taxi Association, bemoaned that it takes close to an hour from Caledonia Road to get into the town.

 

Mr. Johnson expressed frustration with the current situation. 

 

"When you come into the town of Mandeville, if little rain fall, God help you. There is no movement. And when I check, sometimes the police is not out there to direct the traffic. I am telling NWA that they make a big blunder when they put all the traffic in the town of Mandeville coming up Main Street," he insisted. 

 

Business operator Calvin Lyn, who operates in the town of Mandeville, added that several calls for additional signage have fallen on deaf ears. 

 

"At my business place here, looking across the road where there is an extrance and exit to the Manchester Shopping Centre, motorists are going the opposite way by exiting the plaza onto Main Street, which is not allowed, so I would ask that the powers that be, at the appropriate place, put a sign signifying no exit to Main Street," suggested the businessman.