FALMOUTH, Trelawny — The National Works Agency (NWA) has commenced a $11.5 million project to signalise the intersection of the Northern Coastal Highway and the main road that leads to Daniel Town in Trelawny.

The lights, when installed, will become the first signalised intersection in the parish, and will come after several years of lobbying by the Trelawny Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and after several fatal motor vehicle crashes there.

“The works are now at the preliminary stage where foundations are being constructed for the traffic signal mast arms. The traffic signals will better regulate the distribution of right turning and left turning traffic between both roadways,” Janel Ricketts, the community relations for the NWA’s western region told the Jamaica Observer West.

According to Ricketts, a recent study of the movement of traffic using the intersection has revealed that upwards of 11,570 vehicles use that section of the roadway on a daily basis.

“The Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium and some major residential developments, such as Stonebrook Vista, Florence Hall and Hague, are located in proximity to the intersection, exponentially increasing the volume of vehicles accessing the corridor,” Ricketts explained.

The project, which is being funded under the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation’s 2019/2020 Traffic Management and Control Programme, includes the installation of seven signal heads inclusive of two pedestrian lights and vehicle sensors, which will be implemented over a three-month period.

Ricketts said her agency is also looking at installing other traffic signals at busy intersections in Trelawny.

And President of the Trelawny Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Delroy Christie, who had long warned that if traffic signals were not installed at various intersections in the parish — particularly the one leading off the Northern Coastal Highway unto the Daniel Town main road — there will be more fatal crashes, has welcomed the start of works to install what he described as “the badly-needed traffic lights.”

“This will go a far way to minimise the frequency of accidents in this locale,” he said.

The businessman, however, lamented that “unfortunately, the construction underway is for a three- way light. This will not open up the highway in a manner that resolves the residential and commercial transportation issues plaguing the community of Rock since the closure of the bridge over the Martha Brae river.”

He stressed the need for the new lights to be speedily upgraded to a four-way-system, and for the roadway leading to the Justice Centre to be realigned and upgraded.

Christie is also calling for additional lights to be installed at several other busy intersections in the parish, including the intersection turning off to Fisherman’s Inn, as well as at Bogue Gate and the Martha Brae intersection.