THE National Works Agency (NWA) will be introducing major changes to traffic movement in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew, at the Constant Spring Road/South Odeon Avenue and Constant Spring Road/Hope Road intersections, starting Sunday.

The NWA's Manager of Communication and Customer Services Stephen Shaw said the changes will result in an exclusive pedestrian signal phase at these intersections, being implemented in colloboration with the Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited (JUTC), Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing's Road Safety Unit and the National Road Safety Council.

With the changes:

* Buses exiting the Half-Way-Tree Transportation Centre will not be permitted to travel across Constant Spring Road to Suthermere Avenue.

* When buses are exiting the Transportation Centre onto Constant Spring Road, pedestrian movement will be allowed at the Constant Spring Road/South Odeon Avenue and Constant Spring Road/Suthermere Avenue intersections, while vehicular movement at both intersections will be stopped.

* The traffic signal timing at both intersections will be adjusted to accommodate increased walk time for pedestrians.

* Audible pedestrian signals will be installed at the pedestrian crossing at each intersection to assist the visually impaired.

* Countdown pedestrian signals will be installed to inform pedestrians of available time to cross safely at each intersection.

* Pedestrian crossings will be re-marked and "Do Not Block Intersection" yellow boxes will be marked at the centre of each intersection, in addition to lane usage signs on Constant Spring Road and Hope Road.

Shaw said the traffic changes would be monitored for six months to determine their effectiveness in improving pedestrian safety at intersections in the Half-Way-Tree area.