Christopher Pryce | Barbican traffic flow farcical

There has been a lot of infrastructure roadworks across the Corporate Area and other parts of the island that have been commendable. In most cases, the obvious and appreciated benefit is in relation to the resurfacing of the roadways. Often unknown or unseen to the casual observer are the benefits of new or replacement culverts and wastewater infrastructure.

However, there is an element of these major works that is very troubling. The situation relates to the poor quality of supervision of the worksites, the absence of modern and logical directional and safety apparatus, and the implementation of improper road safety designs and features.

A case in point are the works on Barbican Road. The improved surface works and improved flow of traffic are standout positives. But besides this improvement, there are other key elements that are fundamental to road safety and transportation design that have been neglected. A first-degree curriculum in civil or transportation engineering covers these areas and assuming that our local engineers have been properly schooled, whether locally and elsewhere, it remains a mystery as to why these core design elements are not being put into practice.

PROBLEMATIC ‘OPTIONS’

At the intersection of Barbican Road and East Kings House Road, in the vicinity of Fontana Pharmacy and Pizza Hut, there is not a single traffic-signal permutation that does not pose problems for vehicular traffic and pedestrians. There is no green-light phase to allow traffic to flow that is not in conflict with the logic of other road users. The common one experienced is that of approaching the intersection going due east. There are three lanes, with the two right-most lanes marked for the traffic to veer right on to East Kings House Road.

However, the left-most of the two lanes, which is actually the middle lane of the three lanes going east, often has drivers not turning on to East Kings House Road, but proceeding straight ahead past Liguanea Avenue and onwards to the intersection with Widcombe Road. This occurs because of the build-up of traffic, which makes the ‘option’ to go straight appealing. But this is problematic, for this option now has vehicles flowing in the direction and in the lane that was designed only for the left-most of the three lanes to proceed straight ahead towards Liguanea Avenue. I have seen the accidents and frequent near-misses. The situation is under control only when the police officers are doing duty on spot.

The same situation also has the left lane approaching the intersection flowing ahead into a two-lane option towards Liguanea Avenue. But once one crosses the intersection in the left lane, one is supposed to turn left on to Jacks Hill Road, but this is seldom what occurs. Instead, there is a competition for two streams of traffic to funnel forward where the ‘design’ was for a single lane to progress due east.

While it is accepted that we have limited land space and that we have to be creative as we make improvements, we seem to sacrifice proper design and planning principles for some benefit still unfathomed to all except the contractors.

PEDESTRIAN DEATHTRAPS

Notice that the interest of the pedestrians has been ignored and compromised. The limited pedestrian crossings are in sync with some traffic signals but completely out of sync with the traffic flow. This is witnessed every single day, with persons scurrying over the median barriers to beat the traffic.

A consequence of the improved traffic flow is that villagers, who are the majority of the pedestrians along the strip, have but two crossing points – at the Hi-Lo and Fontana spots. For the entire strip of recently completed and ongoing works, one can see daily children and adults hoisting themselves across the median to traverse to either side. This is dangerous.

Finally, at the intersection of Barbican Road and Acadia Drive, it appears that the design is for a two-lane roadway in either direction. Albeit that the work is still ongoing, there is a danger for traffic coming down Acadia Drive, towards the intersection with Barbican Road, and needing to turn right towards Grants Pen Road. They essentially have to navigate crossing four lanes of traffic, without the benefit of a traffic signal. At a minimum, a temporary traffic signal should be placed at this danger spot.

The improved roadworks are welcome and appreciated, but there is no reason to sacrifice or disband basic engineering principles related to safety and design.

Christopher Pryce is a trained engineer with a special interest in public affairs. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and christopherjmpryce@yahoo.com.