RESIDENTS of Bamboo Avenue – the road that borders the United States Embassy in Liguanea on the left – are waiting with bated breath to see what effect, if any, the embassy’s relocation to their neighbourhood will have on their daily lives.

They told the Observer that they are at least thankful that a fence had been erected, barring vehicular and pedestrian traffic entering from Hope Road. The metal barrier, a taller version of a regular picket fence, with two pedestrian openings on either side and a larger gate in the middle, was put up by the embassy through its office of Overseas Building about a week ago.

The barrier restricts traffic in and out of the residential Bamboo Avenue community. The gates will be kept locked for security reasons, but people living and working on the avenue will have keys so they can have direct access to Hope Road.

“The work was done at the request of the local community association, and with the approval of the KSAC,” public affairs officer at the embassy Glen Guimond told the Observer. “We didn’t request for it to be blocked off, as far as we’re concerned it could have remained open,” he added.

Beverly Dunkley, who has owned property on Bamboo Avenue for 10 years, and who played a role in having the fence constructed, told the Observer that the citizens requested it as a means of protection from vehicular and pedestrian traffic, which had increased because of the development of the area as well as from the presence of the embassy.

“We asked for the road to be blocked off from day one based on the heavy traffic coming onto Bamboo, and the fact that the embassy would attract a crowd,” Dunkley said.

She explained that when the amalgamated citizens’ associations of Liguanea protested the relocation of the embassy to their community more than two years ago, it was based mainly on the fact that the US had become what she called a “sitting target” after the events of 9-11 and that, she said, was a potential danger for the citizens. The amount of vehicular and pedestrian traffic they expected to pass through the area, as well as the negative financial effects of having a commercial property next to their upscale residential ones were also strong concerns, she said.

“When we became aware that the embassy was going to be built there, we objected because we didn’t want it in a residential community, especially post 9-11.

“We didn’t know what was being built in terms of the height of the building, the parking facilities (and so on). We thought it would face Bamboo Avenue and I thought it would have blocked out my light,” Dunkley said, adding that the residents also feared increased traffic.

“We went through a nightmare when traffic from Hope Road was rerouted onto Bamboo Avenue while (the former road) was being widened. The buses came through, people started peddling on the streets, there were drug addicts walking around – it was horrible and we didn’t want that to go on,” she continued.

The residents, therefore, requested the fence, Dunkley said, as a concession.

“We came to the conclusion that it didn’t make sense to pursue it [caviot protesting the embassy’s relocation to Bamboo Avenue] because it was already decided…so we asked for the road to be blocked off as a concession…and they backed us on that decision for security reasons I guess.”

So far, she said things are faring well and the residents are content with the fence and with the operations at the embassy. However, they are cognisant that it is early days yet, and are mentally bracing themselves.

“It is left to be seen what will transpire once they get into full gear,” Dunkley said, suggesting that problems related to low water pressure in the area might get worse.