A waste of taxpayers’ money

THE EDITOR: The construction of a third lane on Wrightson Road between South Quay and Colville Street in order to accommodate traffic travelling west, is a waste of taxpayers’ money and will be a greater inconvenience to the motoring and commuting public. Presently, Colville Street from Wrightson Road to Tragarete Road, Ariapita Avenue up to French Street and Wrightson Road up to the Foreshore Highway are all over congested with traffic. Therefore, the addition of a third lane will only serve to increase the flow of traffic, further compounding this problem.

The outlet of a funnel must be dealt with first to increase the flow before you increase the capacity, or the inevitable congestion and frustrations will occur. The problem being experienced by vehicles in this area is due to the traffic light at the junction of Dock Road and Ajax Street with Wrightson Road which was installed when Dock Road served as the entrance and exit to Queen’s Wharf. These roads are now virtual car parks that serve to benefit a mere one or two cars exiting into Wrightson Road and a couple making u-turns at this light from time to time, while hundreds of vehicles and thousands of people travelling from South Quay, Beetham Highway and Independence Square are being brought to a standstill when this light turns red.

Whenever this light is not functioning the traffic flows freely. Just turn it off for a few hours, Mr Minister and you will see this for yourself. The solution is to abandon this light and to open the link at the bottom of Richmond Street from Independence Square North to Independence Square South, which is the westbound lane, for those needing to make a u-turn. Then, the Ajax Street vehicles can filter out and the Dock Road vehicles can either filter westbound or use the road next to the post office which links Dock Road to Wrightson Road for the vehicles traveling East or West. Please Mr Minister, do not start this unnecessary project especially on January 19 — a mere 19 days before Carnival Monday, as this will only compound traffic problems over the Carnival season to the great inconvenience and frustration of motorists.

B EDGHILL
St Ann’s