MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The implementation of a traffic management system here to address long-standing congestion is expected to be completed by July following delays caused by difficulties to relocate utility poles and complaints of inconvenience by some citizens and business owners.

Major projects manager at the National Works Agency (NWA) Orville Reynolds said the $70 million project, which incorporates roads and intersections being widened and signalised, is far advanced.

“Within another month or so the civil works and the subsurface infrastructure works, traffic signals will be in…close to the end of July we should have this project [completed],” he told an audience of business leaders at a town hall meeting at the Manchester Golf Club last Thursday.

The town hall, organised by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, follows weeks of widespread debate among business leaders after the installation of a median in the vicinity of the Manchester Shopping Centre resulting in no right turns into or out of the facility on Caledonia Road.

Paul Burke, chairman of the Manchester Shopping Centre, said a survey showed that business at the facility has dipped by over 15 per cent since the median was installed.

“[There] are 30 odd businesses within the shopping centre and it severely affects everybody. We are talking about nearly 1,500 people, so I am asking if something can be done to alleviate the one-way system that is trying to be implemented within the shopping centre [area],” he said.

Burke claimed that land, which formed a part of the shopping centre, was incorporated into the new traffic system without the requisite consultation.

“Part of the [area] that was bulldozed is the Manchester Shopping Centre property and the board we have referred it to lawyers,” he said.

Among the roads and intersections to be signalised under the project are North Race Course Road to Main Street, North Race Course Road to Caledonia Road, Villa Road to Main Street, South Race Course Road, Caledonia Road, Park Crescent, Manchester Road, Perth Road, and Greenvale Road.

Custos of Manchester Garfield Green called for greater consultation, marking and signage to guide motorists while the implementation of the project continues.

“…There is no demarcation. There is no smoothness. When you go there people just find a position and hold it, so it is confusing. Can you pave it and put some temporary markings, some signage out there just to improve and guide people which direction to go or which side of the road they should take,” said Green.

He suggested that some of the road works be done at nights and on weekends.

“I have also noticed that during peak hours a lot of construction takes place and that in itself builds up traffic…I know those who are putting in the traffic lights they work at nights, but the construction of the civil works, you can consider doing some of that at nights to reduce the traffic pile-up during the construction in the daytime,” said Green.

There were also concerns about the proposed change in access to the Mandeville Regional Hospital following the implementation of a one-way system on a section of Caledonia Road. The one-way is to start at the intersection of Caledonia Road, Manchester Road and Ward Avenue, and flowing towards New Green Road where it will end.