New traffic plan for West Bay Rd

Minister of Works,
Hon Gilbert McLean

by Alan Markoff

Wednesday, June 30, 2004

A system whereby the centre lane of West Bay Road is made one-way heading south into George Town in the morning and then one-way heading north in the evening is being considered as a way to alleviate the serious traffic problems now experienced.

The Minister of Works, Hon Gilbert McLean, confirmed reports that the lane reversal proposal is currently being examined by the Public Works Department and could take effect as soon as September of this year.

“This is something that has been suggested and it poses a short-to-medium term solution to the increasing traffic problem along West Bay Road,” said Mr McLean.

Mr McLean indicated that a contraflow traffic system, which also known as lane-reversal, had worked well in other jurisdictions and that it provided an alternative to the expensive proposition of building new roads.

“The plan has my support,” said Mr McLean, “We need to find a reasonable and practicable solution to ease the traffic quickly,” he said, noting that a contraflow system could be implemented in just a few months.

To put a contraflow system into operation on West Bay Road, Mr McLean said that the Royal Cayman Islands Police would have to be consulted to help with traffic control, that the media would have to be utilised for educating the public concerning the new system, and that clear and effective signage would have to be installed.

Mr McLean also stated that the new National Roads Authority, which is scheduled to commence on Thursday, 1 July, would continue the work already completed by Public Works on the proposed contraflow system.

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