By Rasbert Turner, Gleaner WriterSPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:
EFFORTS BY the National Works Agency (NWA) and the Ministry of Transport and Works to convert the Spanish Town bypass into a reversible one-way are still causing concern for some road users, despite additional changes to the original plan. These changes took effect yesterday.
The changes include a revision of the time when the bypass is converted into a one-way from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., instead of the original 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Also, instead of all vehicles going easterly towards Kingston, two lanes were allowed to travel into Kingston and one out of the country's capital city.
This ran smoothly until 8:00 a.m. and was lauded by motorists.
The authorities decided to use the same system again in the afternoon with the reverse traffic going westerly toward the Old Harbour bypass.
A Gleaner news team, which went to the troubled spots at the Old Harbour and Jose Marti roundabouts at about 5:30 p.m. yesterday, noted that changes announced by the authority Monday were not in place, as vehicles were seen moving only in a westerly direction.
However, at Burke Road in Spanish Town, the changes were obvious as traffic flowed one way out of Spanish Town and easterly on Burke Road with no right turn at White Church Street or Port Henderson Road. Also, vehicles are now able to turn before reaching Barrett Street at the entrance to the Spanish Town Hospital and Shell gas station.
Traffic was at a snarl as the authorities experienced headaches with vehicles dropping off passengers at bus stops along Burke Road. Policemen could be seen
at all the intersections directing traffic.
Inspector Patrick Murdock, sub-officer in charge of traffic for St. Catherine North, said: "It worked well this morning, and I would love to see it progress smoothly; however, as it is, it's new and will take time for all concerned to adopt to the changes."
The changes are set to run five days per week Monday through Friday.
