As the National Works Agency (NWA) moves to improve safety along the Elegant Corridor in St. James, a new set of traffic signals have been commissioned into service along the stretch.
The new signal was installed in the vicinity of PriceSmart. This brings to 17, the number of facilities along the 27-kilometre stretch, entering the city of Montego Bay from the direction of Falmouth.
Community Relations Officer at the National Works Agency (NWA), Janel Ricketts, says that the new traffic lights are a result of the Agenyc’s collaboration with Blue Shore Development, the developers of PriceSmart.
Ms. Ricketts says that with the opening of PriceSmart, along the Ironshore main road, it is anticipated that there will be increased traffic flow, making the traffic signals necessary.
She says the newly installed traffic signals should mitigate the risk of accident and injury, once road users obey the system.
Ms. Ricketts says that the signal will not only better regulate the flow of traffic at the intersection, but will also improve pedestrian safety, by separating vehicular and pedestrian movement. Pedestrians will now be able to activate the pedestrian signal, through a push-button activated system, which will indicate when it is safe to cross. Pedestrians are encouraged to make use of this feature.
In the meantime, Ms. Ricketts is reminding motorists and pedestrians that failure to obey traffic signals is a major cause of accidents, not only along the Elegant Corridor, but on all other roadways where intersections are controlled by electronic signals.
Motorists are being encouraged to exercise due care as they navigate the island’s road network.
