KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) in collaboration with the National Works Agency (NWA) is announcing several temporary traffic changes ahead of the annual fireworks at the Waterfront in downtown Kingston on Thursday.

According to a press release Monday, UDC said that on Wednesday at 10:00 am, the intersection of Church Street through to entrance/exit of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) car park on Duke Street/Nethersole Place will be blocked off to public vehicular traffic. However, emergency and service vehicles will be allowed through to facilitate the construction of the stage.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, from 6:00 am, the following streets will be blocked:

•On Ocean Boulevard/West Street at the intersections with Port Royal Street;

• On Ocean Boulevard/Pechon Street at the intersections with Port Royal Street;

• On Ocean Boulevard going westward before the intersection with Princess Street;

• On Princess Street at the intersection of Port Royal Street and Ocean Boulevard;

 • On Ocean Boulevard behind the stage;

• On Orange Street below entrance to the Multi-Storey Car Park;

• On King Street below the entrance to Kentucky Fried Chicken entrance to South Street.

The release added that in order to facilitate the erection of tents, parking would not be allowed along the curb of the northern lane of the dual carriageway along Ocean Boulevard. The UDC added that as a result of this, there should be little or no obstruction to traffic.

At 4:00 pm on Thursday, Church Street, just south of the entrance to the Jamaica Conference Centre Multi-Storey Car Park will be blocked off to public vehicular traffic. The flow of traffic on the following streets is to also be changed:

• Traffic to be re-directed entering Ocean Boulevard from Pechon Street on to Harbour Street;

• Two-way traffic on Church Street before entrance to the Jamaica Conference Centre Multi Storey Car Park

• Two-way traffic on West and Princess streets below or south of Port Royal Street;

• Two-way traffic (service vehicles only) on Ocean Boulevard behind the stage;

• Two-way traffic on Orange Street from Port Royal Street, intersection to Multi Storey Car Park.

Patrons are being asked by the UDC to wear something white this year in celebration of the theme ‘Hope’.