Bahamas News
09-17-04, - 10:56 AM
Spare Parts Shortage Delays Restoration of Traffic Lights
By MARTELLA MATTHEWS
Nassau Guardian
With a lack of spare parts delaying the restoration of traffic signals at a number of busy intersections, motorists have been given pointers on how best to navigate such zones.
Traffic lights - a necessity to keep the streets of New Providence from becoming even more gridlocked - were whipped and lashed by the forceful winds of Hurricane Frances, leaving many still in a state of disrepair.
As the companies responsible for the upkeep of the signals begin their damage assessment and repair, they estimate costs could run as high as $50,000.
According to Ray McKenzie, project manager at Caribbean Civil Group and HyPower PM, since the passage of Frances close to two weeks ago, 80 per cent of the 68 traffic signals on the island have already been repaired. The company is awaiting supplies, which they hope to receive within the next week to complete the remaining lights.
"We anticipate the parts being landed here in one week and as soon as we get the parts, High Power International will proceed to remedy those intersections," Mr McKenzie said. He estimated that on receiving the parts, it would take just a few days to get the remaining traffic lights on the island operating at full capacity.
Major intersections such as the Marathon and Robinson Roads and Soldier Road and Prince Charles Drive were among the first to receive attention after the hurricane passed, he said. Other intersections in the immediate vicinity of the lights were also restored at the same time, he added.
While other busy intersections such as John F. Kennedy Drive and Bethel Ave and Shirley Street and Mount Royal Avenue are still out of commission, the project manager advised that assistance has been sought from the traffic division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force to man the area during mornings and evenings when traffic is heaviest.
Other traffic signals that are also still down include those at: Blue Hill Road and Cowpen Road; Blue Hill and Meadows Road; John F. Kennedy Drive and Farrington Road; Wulff Road and Market Street; Independence Highway and Abundant Life Road; Blue Hill and Robinson Road; Thompson Blvd. and the Sports Centre, and East Street and Ross Corner.
As the joint venture group works to get the traffic conditions on the island back to normal, Mr. McKenzie advised that where lights are still out of commission, road traffic rules govern how the intersections should be approached.
He said that at intersections where the traffic lights are perpetually flashing, blinking yellow on one side and red on the other, motorists with the yellow flashing lights have the right of way. Intersections where the lights are completely inoperative should be treated as four-way stops with the first car approaching the intersection having the right of way.
Damage sustained by the traffic lights include: lost signal heads that were blown away during the high winds, the loss of a large number of controllers (the computerized internal component of the signals) and wiring problems resulting from the signal heads being ripped from the lines.
By MARTELLA MATTHEWS
Nassau Guardian
With a lack of spare parts delaying the restoration of traffic signals at a number of busy intersections, motorists have been given pointers on how best to navigate such zones.
Traffic lights - a necessity to keep the streets of New Providence from becoming even more gridlocked - were whipped and lashed by the forceful winds of Hurricane Frances, leaving many still in a state of disrepair.
As the companies responsible for the upkeep of the signals begin their damage assessment and repair, they estimate costs could run as high as $50,000.
According to Ray McKenzie, project manager at Caribbean Civil Group and HyPower PM, since the passage of Frances close to two weeks ago, 80 per cent of the 68 traffic signals on the island have already been repaired. The company is awaiting supplies, which they hope to receive within the next week to complete the remaining lights.
"We anticipate the parts being landed here in one week and as soon as we get the parts, High Power International will proceed to remedy those intersections," Mr McKenzie said. He estimated that on receiving the parts, it would take just a few days to get the remaining traffic lights on the island operating at full capacity.
Major intersections such as the Marathon and Robinson Roads and Soldier Road and Prince Charles Drive were among the first to receive attention after the hurricane passed, he said. Other intersections in the immediate vicinity of the lights were also restored at the same time, he added.
While other busy intersections such as John F. Kennedy Drive and Bethel Ave and Shirley Street and Mount Royal Avenue are still out of commission, the project manager advised that assistance has been sought from the traffic division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force to man the area during mornings and evenings when traffic is heaviest.
Other traffic signals that are also still down include those at: Blue Hill Road and Cowpen Road; Blue Hill and Meadows Road; John F. Kennedy Drive and Farrington Road; Wulff Road and Market Street; Independence Highway and Abundant Life Road; Blue Hill and Robinson Road; Thompson Blvd. and the Sports Centre, and East Street and Ross Corner.
As the joint venture group works to get the traffic conditions on the island back to normal, Mr. McKenzie advised that where lights are still out of commission, road traffic rules govern how the intersections should be approached.
He said that at intersections where the traffic lights are perpetually flashing, blinking yellow on one side and red on the other, motorists with the yellow flashing lights have the right of way. Intersections where the lights are completely inoperative should be treated as four-way stops with the first car approaching the intersection having the right of way.
Damage sustained by the traffic lights include: lost signal heads that were blown away during the high winds, the loss of a large number of controllers (the computerized internal component of the signals) and wiring problems resulting from the signal heads being ripped from the lines.