MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Transport and business leaders in this south-central town say they will have to wait and see how motorists will adjust to the recently implemented traffic system here.

As part of the near $75-million Greater Mandeville Traffic Management System, Caledonia Road, since Sunday, now functions on a one-way system from the direction of Scotiabank to the New Green Road intersection.

The section of Manchester Road, between Scotiabank and Sinclair’s Bargain Centre, has also been converted into a one-way stretch.

Other changes through the Mandeville Traffic Management Improvement plan is the opening of the median along Main Street to allow traffic from North Race Course Road and at Villa Road.

Lyden “Trevor” Heaven, proprietor of Heaven’s Fesco in Mandeville and chairman of Fesco, said while he supports the traffic changes it will take time for motorists to adjust.

“I don’t have a problem with it. I think it was necessary, but on Monday morning there was some gridlock and congestion in the town. Many people had to drive around the town. My only issue with it is, based on how it is configured right now, people going into Mandeville have to go through the town centre itself, which is crowded on a normal day,” he said on Monday.

“I think it is a good initiative that, hopefully with time, will bring a better traffic flow throughout the town itself,” added Heaven.

Peter Campbell, managing director of Golf View Hotel, is calling for sensitisation of the traffic changes.

“It is necessary to be done, so it is a welcomed introduction. There needs to be greater sensitisation showing the layout and the suggested routes, because people on the ground are still somewhat confused as it relates to the hospital and accessing it,” he said, in reference to the Mandeville Regional Hospital on Caledonia Road.

Member of Parliament for Manchester Central Rhoda Crawford said the concerns raised about the traffic management system are being analysed.

“The aim is to get the system to work so once we are getting feedback that is legitimate and constructive the technical team and engineers will be looking at it, so that any adjustments that can be made will be made,” she said. “At the end of the day the aim is to improve the traffic management system. If any aspect of the design is mitigating against that then obviously the technical team has to look back at it,” she said while adding that some motorists need time to adjust to the traffic changes.

“We welcome the suggestions and the responses. Something may look good in theory, but it doesn’t actually work in practical as well as sometimes some of the concerns are just persons needing to learn the changes,” said Crawford.

President of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce Simone Spence Johnson said it is still early days for the business community to analyse the traffic changes.

“I believe that we are still in a test run phase of how the traffic system will work and how the traffic will flow. I think we have to give it a few days and see how the motorists will adapt to it and then we can have a better assessment,” she said.

President of the Central Manchester Taxi Association Shirley Johnson, while welcoming aspects of the project, pointed to congestion from New Green Road towards the town centre and accessing a school and hospital on Caledonia Road.

“I have two problems with it as it relates to accessing the hospital and Mandeville Primary School, because right now I think they should open the back gate at Hargreaves Avenue for emergency vehicles. There was a back gate on Race Course Road for the school. I would advise them to open that gate, even for pedestrians,” he said.

“I have received complaints from taxi operators who use New Green Road, because nobody can make a right turn on Caledonia Road from New Green Road, so the traffic there is backed all the way up,” added Johnson.

He suggested that the Transport Authority change some routes in the town centre for some taxi operators.