After decades of planning, nine years of the conceptual drawings being produced and 21 months of construction the dualisation of the Washington Boulevard/Dunrobin Avenue corridors up to its intersection with Constant Spring Road has been accomplished.
The government having completed the first phase of this dream in 2001, with the conversion of the section of Washington Boulevard, between Six Miles and Molynes Road from two to six lanes had set sight on the stretch from Molynes Road to Constant Spring Road, inclusive of Dunrobin Avenue. The early designs of this stretch date back to 2002. It was implemented in June 2007, following negotiations with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for funding for what became the Washington Boulevard (fifth road) Improvement Project. The now enhanced corridor boasts six (6) driving lanes up from two (2), spanning a distance of 2.75 kilometres.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony for the corridor, Minister of Transport and Works, Mike Henry said that the improved corridor will bring relief to residents, motorists, pedestrians and business interests along Washington Boulevard, Dunrobin Avenue and neighbouring localities, who had suffered years of grave traffic congestion along the corridors, a situation which extended to many of the off leading roads.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Works Agency (NWA), Patrick Wong who also spoke at the ceremony said that “the Agency recognized the importance of widening the roadway in order to facilitate the efficient and effective movement of traffic. This WBIP was imperative to the National Works Agency's efforts at improving the flow of traffic within the Corporate Area and I am confident that we have delivered a product that will be beneficial and indeed enjoyable to all users/stakeholders."
Traffic Safety...A major consideration
The issue of motorist and pedestrian safety was a huge consideration of the WBIP. Project Manager, Alfonso Marshall told the Roadster that it was against this background that a number of traffic safety features were included. A total of eight (8) new traffic signals have been installed along the corridor, complete with pedestrian facilities which include pedestrian push-buttons and pedestrian crossings. Just under seventy (70) additional street lights have also been placed along the corridor, together with improved sidewalks on both sides of the main roadway and Drop Kerbs at pedestrian access points. Sidewalks have also been constructed along the Ramps of the Red Hills Bridge, as well as along the roadway of the Underpass.
The alleviation of flooding along the corridor during rainfall events was also a major consideration of the project. Mr. Marshall said that in this regard over 100 storm water manholes had been constructed.
Intervention in Schools
With the road being completed, the NWA has commenced a school intervention programme with a view to getting parents and children of the several schools within close proximity of the corridor using it safely. “We recognize that with the widening of the roadway from two to six lanes, the attitude of motorists will change, they will be moving at a faster rate, yielding less to pedestrians. Pedestrians, and especially school children, would therefore need to adopt a more vigilant approach to traversing this new roadway in order to ensure their safety,” said Mr. Wong. In this regard, the NWA has organized a series of intervenient meetings with schools located along the corridor and its environs, deemed to be directly impacted by the enhancements undertaken.
Mr. Wong said that these interventions were geared at educating students and in some cases, parents/guardians on the proper use of the roadway and pedestrian facilities, including the observance of pedestrian safety signs, in order to ensure their safety along the corridor. The programme commenced in September 2011 and is expected to continue through to November 2011.
