LUCEA, Hanover — The issue of traffic management continues to be an issue in Lucea, Hanover.

Mayor of Lucea Sheridan Samuels had called for police assistance in monitoring the flow of traffic in the town of Lucea but the police say they alone cannot address the situation, suggesting a traffic light is needed to address congestion in a section of the town.

“Looking at it, I think we may need some traffic signals to regulate the traffic or else it will continue. The police alone cannot do that,” said newly assigned operations officer for the Hanover Police Division Deputy Superintendent Angela McIntosh Gayle. She said her traffic team is currently doing a good job but is stretched.

In December, major changes were made in the town whereby Willie Delisser Boulevard was reverted to two-way traffic as was obtained approximately two decades ago.

The move has drastically eased the traffic congestion for vehicles passing through the town from St James towards Negril but it has also created another issue. Motorists passing through the town from Negril towards St James, who did not normally have issues, are now faced with minor delays.

Deputy Superintendent McIntosh Gayle believes a traffic signal would alleviate the delays faced by motorists heading from Negril to St James.

Mayor Samuels agreed that while the changes made in December are paying off, the corporation had recognised the developing issue.

“We saw the need for the stoplight, especially in this location here, because you have the vehicles coming from this side going there, which is stopping the ones coming from Negril. That is what is causing the congestion, stated Samuels.

DSP McIntosh Gayle also noted that while repairs done to the main road that passes through Hopewell have alleviated some of the traffic issues in the coastal town, the undisciplined use of the roadway by motorists is an issue.

McIntosh Gayle said motorists are stopping on the roadway to support vendors, which impedes the flow of traffic. She also pointed to the lack of discipline displayed by delivery truck drivers.

“They deliver anytime. They stop anywhere. Even when there is parking, they are not going into the physical space; they tend to be on the side of the road. That is cause for concern,” stated the officer.

She proposed regulated delivery hours, which she said would help.

Deputy Superintendent McIntosh Gayle also pointed to the lack of parking spaces for the police in the congested town. She has called for reserved parking for the security force.

“We have to be driving around to find somewhere to park,… and parking on the soft shoulder is not good. And so, when we park there persons are going to say they can park there [too],” reasoned DSP McIntosh Gayle.

However, Mayor Samuels said a parking area has been reserved for the police at no cost.

“Again, we have had this question as it relates to parking. We have identified the area from the back of the post office there up to the pedestrian crossing. We are reserving it for police parking,” stated Samuels.

“There is a list that came in, and we said that we would give all the vehicles a parking permit just to park in that location. And if anybody outside of police parking parks out there, then we are going to clamp them. And if any police park there with a vehicle that we did not give the permit to, they are going to be clamped also,” added Samuels.

He said there is a proposal for the reserved area to be painted in blue, and signs erected.

Deputy Superintendent McIntosh Gayle also spoke about people parking their vehicles in the corporation’s managed transportation centre in Lucea, ahead the arrival of workers, then returning for them at a later date.

Samuels, who thanked the police for the information, said he is aware of the issue but thought a stop had been put to it.

“We have to fix that,” stated Samuels.