KINGSTON, Jamaica — Effective tomorrow, buses travelling from the direction of Portmore will not be allowed to set down passengers in the vicinity of the overhead bridge where the Portmore Toll Road intersects with Marcus Garvey Drive, says the National Works Agency (NWA).

NWA’s communication and customer services manager Stephen Shaw, in a statement yesterday, said the change is being made as the agency tries to address the issue of the significant back-up along the Portmore Toll, especially since the opening of the new Chesterfield Road.

The NWA, police, Trans-Jamaica Highway and the National Road Operating and Construction Company (NROCC) have been meeting on the issue of the traffic snarls along the Portmore Toll.

Shaw said based on observations, it has been determined that a significant cause of the backup has been the constant interruptions by pedestrians of the vehicular traffic flow.

The buses, which are operated by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) and its franchise holders, have been setting down passengers near the bridge. The majority of these passengers then walk across the traffic as they head across the median to the Port of Kingston, NWA said.

“Consultations have been had with the JUTC and the decision made to have all buses travel through the port, where they will properly set down passengers who are heading into that area. No stopping will therefore be allowed on the toll road.

“Persons wishing to disembark vehicles in order to head in the Three Miles direction will be allowed to do so on the section of Marcus Garvey Drive that leads to that area,” the statement continued.

Shaw said the NWA is contemplating other changes, as it seeks to optimise the use of both the Portmore Toll and Chesterfield Drive. He is urging especially pedestrians to desist from climbing the median along the Portmore Toll, as they are putting themselves at risk of injury or death.