NWA rolls out video detection system to manage congestion in Kingston and St Andrew intersections
Published:Tuesday | February 17, 2026 | 6:27 PM
The National Works Agency (NWA) is installing a multi-million-dollar Video Detection System at key traffic signal-regulated intersections in Kingston and St Andrew to manage congestion.
It says the new system, costing $21.3 million, will replace the electro-magnetic field sensors currently embedded in roadways, which detect vehicles and trigger signal changes.
The NWA says those older sensors are prone to damage from potholes, utility works, and general wear and tear, often reducing the efficiency of traffic flow management.
The agency says the video detection system will see cameras being placed strategically above the corridors to detect traffic patterns. “The new approach will also minimize the likelihood of third-party damage, as well as reducing wear and tear on the equipment,” it added.
“The agency is modernising this aspect of its traffic management protocol in order to make the system more responsive and efficient,” according to an NWA statement on Tuesday. “This should see greater benefits to road users as it relates to road safety.”
The NWA says the current phase focuses on critical intersections along Washington Boulevard, Constant Spring Road, Marcus Garvey Drive, New Kingston, and Waterloo Road, all in St. Andrew.
Specific locations along Washington Boulevard include Duhaney Drive, Molynes Road, Weymouth Drive, Patrick Drive, Ken Hill Drive, and Headley Avenue.
Marcus Garvey Drive will see upgrades at Ninth Avenue, Fourth Avenue, Industrial Terrace, and Gate Three, while Constant Spring Road’s West Avenue/Oakland Apartments intersection is also included.
Additional improvements are planned for Hope Road/Kingsway; Dunrobin Avenue/Dukharan Avenue and Trafalgar Road Intersections
The NWA manages more than 300 signalised intersections islandwide.
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