ST ANN, Jamaica— The St Ann Chamber of Commerce has expressed concern over traffic congestion in major towns in the parish which it says is impacting the transportation of goods.

Commerce President Dr Ransford Davidson says the congestion is due to the inability of the road network to support the increasing population in St Ann.

“With respect of the road network currently, as we recognise that it has been somewhat of an impediment to business, that is due in part to the increase in the population size here in St Ann and the fact that the road network has not been expanded to align with the level of growth that we are experiencing,” Davidson said.

“So it has been challenging from the perspective of congestion in the towns with respect to motor vehicles traversing the area, persons providing goods and services, delay in providing goods and services, so we have seen that level of impact aligned to the level of growth,” he added.

Davidson also mentioned the increase in vehicular crashes which he said has further compounded the issue with congestion.

“We have also seen for example an increase in accidents on the road and that also speaks to some of the concerns with respect to the congestion on the road network,” he said.

However, Davidson said stakeholders are hopeful that the government’s plan to expand the North Coast Highway will help to alleviate some of the issues.

Nonetheless he cautioned that the timeline for that expansion is very critical.

“There is some level of optimism based on the fact that in the pipeline the government plans to develop a four lane highway on the North Coast and so you know that has eased some of the concern but the timeline for that level of expansion will be critical in order to soothe some of the concerns from business in the area so the infrastructural development of the road network is critical,” he said.

He was speaking during a Jamaica Chamber of Commerce forum on Tuesday.