In a press conference held at the ministry’s headquarters on John F. Kennedy Drive yesterday Minister Grant said motorists, residents and business owners need to prepare themselves for the traffic diversions that will be created.
"This one-way couplet system is a component of my ministry’s programme to improve the safety and traffic flows on our road network in New Providence," he said.
"These works will improve the road pavement, the drainage and street lighting and provide for proper sidewalks, improved signage and road markings. Phase one of the one-way couplet system for Baillou Hill Road and Market Street will be implemented on March 30."
The minister explained that Baillou Hill Road will be one-way north bound and Market Street will be one-way south bound between Robinson and Wulff Roads.
He added that subsequent phases of the road works on Baillou Hill Road will continue from Wulff Road to Duke Street and as the work progresses north, the one-way couplet for Baillou Hill Road will also advance north.
"On completion of these road works Baillou Hill Road will be one way north from Robinson Road to Duke Street and Market Street will be one way south from Shirley Street to Robinson Road," Minister Grant said.
"The contractor, Jose Cartellone, is only allowed to work in 1500 feet sections of Baillou Hill Road at any one time and must provide access to neighbouring properties. Although some level of inconvenience might be encountered during this and the remaining phases of the road works, I wish to assure the public that access will be provided to the greatest extent possible, to the project area."
Khader Alikhan, the NPRIP coordinator said motorists will experience some inconveniences throughout the day.
"As far as the contractor goes, all the busy corridors were investigated before construction began and those investigations were done during non-peak hours to give the minimum inconvenience to the motoring public, but those investigations had to have the designs amended and proved certain things," he said.
"The contractor has produced a construction programme that shows that it is better for his team to work during the normal hours so most of the work will take place during the day. The contractor normally indicates when construction will take place and he has decided that he will work through the day hours. So, if he needs to work through the night he will have to get permission."
The minister shared similar sentiments.
"The work has got to be done during the day," he said.
"When we get into nighttime work the cost is going to increase considerably and we need to control costs. Plus, you must remember that we are doing [the work] in 1500 feet sections so as to minimise the inconvenience experienced."
The police will monitor the areas during peak traffic times, according to Seargent 1235 Garland Rolle, who is attached to the Police Traffic Department.
"All uniformed police officers will be at some point working on maintaining law and order on these roads, so if any officer in a patrol unit or motorcycle unit is out there and infractions are committed while the road works are going on they will be able to enforce all the laws pertaining to road traffic in the country," he said.
"We will be partnering with officials from the Department of Road Traffic and we will be in the congested areas at the high peak traffic times. We will need to ensure, however, that the public knows where the road works will take place and the public must remain patient when they get in those areas."
According to officials, preliminary construction began on February 22 and should be completed in January 2011 on Baillou Hill Road and Market Street.
The entire road improvement project for the island is expected to be completed in January 2012.
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