Traffic changes for Sigma Run

Brian Bonitto

Friday, February 17, 2012

COME Sunday, more than 15,000 participants are expected to fill the streets of the city's financial district for this year's PanCaribbean Sigma Corporate Run.

The organisers of the 5.6-kilometre (three-and-half mile) run — now in its 15th year — expect to raise $50 million, in keeping with Jamaica's 50th year of Independence. The funds are to be donated to the cardiac unit of the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

The run, which is scheduled for a 7:30 am start, begins at the Emancipation Park on Knutsford Boulevard in New Kingston, moves along Waterloo Road, onto West Kings House Road, Constant Spring Road, ending at Emancipation Park.

Superintendent of Police, Courtney Courbie, operations officer at the Traffic Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, said he and his team would be out in their numbers for the annual event.

"We'll be providing full coverage of the Sigma Run," said Supt Courbie, who will be in charge of the operation. "We [the police] will be out there to ensure the safety and security of all the participants and we'll be enforcing traffic changes for the duration of the event," he continued.

No vehicle will be allowed along the western section of Trafalgar Road — between Knutsford Boulevard and Hope Road; or along Waterloo Road between West Kings House Road and Hope Road, between 7 am and 9 am on Sunday.

As a result, persons intending to travel from the Half-Way Tree square towards Papine will be diverted along Half-Way Tree Road, onto Old Hope Road, then to Lady Musgrave Road and back onto old Hope Road. In addition, no parking will be permitted along Knutsford Boulevard — between Dominica Drive and Trafalgar Road during the Sigma Run.

"The police will be positioned along the critical intersections of the route to ensure that these traffic changes are adhered to," Superintendent Coubrie added.