THE National Works Agency (NWA) is advising communities and civic groups making plans to paint pedestrian crossings and other road safety markings on Labour Day that they must obtain authorisation from the agency before undertaking any such project.

Manager of Communication and Customer Services at the NWA Stephen Shaw told JIS News that the agency has to approve the site for the markings.

“We have to go out and look at the locations to ensure that they are safe as we wouldn’t want persons to put a pedestrian crossing around a corner where the sighting is not good or outside of an intersection, which could cause serious problems,” he said.

He noted that there are specifications that must be adhered to, including the use of the correct colour paint, which must be white.

Shaw advised persons to contact the NWA’s technical officers in their respective parish for advice on the correct procedure.

“They will give them an indication as to whether what they are requesting is possible. The parish team usually refers the request to the team in Kingston, which would have data on the number of vehicles that traverse a particular corridor, the number of pedestrians who use the road on a weekly or daily basis, and these are things that will go into the taking of a decision,” he pointed out.

On Labour Day, May 23, the NWA will be engaged in several projects across the island.

The works to be undertaken, through $21.5 million from the Road Maintenance Fund, include painting of kerbs, repainting of pedestrian crossings, bushing of verges, drain cleaning and sidewalk repairs.