Angelo Laurence, Gleaner Writer

MANDEVILLE, Manchester:

Traffic jams have now become a way of life throughout the business day in Mandeville, Manchester. The situation has progressively worsened over the past two years with a dramatic leap, into what many are calling chaotic, since the start of the year.

The Manchester Chamber of Commerce, which has expressed its concern about the matter, held a meeting with the leadership of the Manchester Parish Council and the police to seek solutions to the problem. The chamber's president, Winston Lawson, handed over $50,000 to the parish council recently to erect traffic signs at some of the town's trouble spots.

No appreciable change

This has, however, not resulted in any appreciable change in the long lines of traffic that engulf the town from one end to the other. Caledonia, Manchesterand Grove roads, along with main streets, have all become dreaded venues for motorists and are dubbed "graveyards" between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

The poor maintenance of the town's traffic lights has significantly contributed to the problem with some out of service for months. The traffic light at the intersection of Ward Avenue and Caledonia Road in the heart of the town has been out of service for several weeks, causing minor fender benders as well as endangering pedestrians. Jerome Malcom, a taxi driver, said the non-working traffic light has caused what he calls "grief" during the rush hours.

Sergeant Lancelot Frazer, of the Manchester Police Traffic Division, said the lack of patrol bikes and personnel is hampering the police in their efforts to give some relief to the problem. He also said indiscipline, mainly from taxi operators, is a major contributor to the sustained traffic jams on Manchester Road.

Sally Porteous, the deputy mayor of Mandeville, told The Gleaner that the traffic jams are affecting order in the town. She said the best efforts of the Manchester Parish Council to address the problem will never be good enough unless central government provides the necessary funding and equipment for the traffic police.

She said the way buildings are renovated and built in the future must include indoor parking and that, as it now stands, few provisions have been made to accommodate the volume of traffic and pedestrians currently in the town.