The planned changes for both the eastbound (to Kingston) and westbound (to Spanish Town) traffic using the Mandela Highway have been delayed. The traffic changes which are to facilitate the completion of the westbound carriageway between Six Miles and Tom Cringle Drive were to be effected today.
Manager, Communication and Customer Services at the National Works Agency (NWA), Stephen Shaw, says what the plan has been pushed back as critical safety features which form part of the change have not be done. These safety features are expected to be completed during this week.
When the traffic changes are effected, motorists travelling into Kingston will be shifted left, onto a newly paved area, after clearing the traffic signals at Tom Cringle Drive.
Mr. Shaw says in addition, traffic headed out of Kingston will now travel on a section of the current eastbound lanes after crossing the recently-installed Bailey Bridge, near the Six Miles Overpass up to Tom Cringle Drive. Right turns at the intersection onto Tom Cringle Drive will still be accommodated.
The new lanes, to which traffic entering Kingston will be shifted, on the northern side of the project, form part of the permanent eastbound carriageway. The NWA aims to place traffic headed to Spanish Town permanently on the westbound carriageway by mid-January 2019. This will allow for the improvement and raising of approximately 600 metres of the existing roadway between Tom Cringle Drive and Six Miles.
The US$64 million dollar legacy project is currently 88% complete.
