New Falmouth port creates road-safety problems
Published:Saturday | July 16, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Richard Morais, Gleaner Writer
FALMOUTH, Trelawny:
WHILE THE necessary swiftness and excellence of work went into the development of the new Falmouth port, that same urgency and excellence is woefully lacking in developments for the local residents.
Cornwall Street was forced into being a main thoroughfare because of the new one-way traffic flow instituted in the town to complement the new port. However, it is in a poor state, not befitting a main thoroughfare, and that is the complaint. One resident was cynical in linking this neglect to the fact that the road is primarily used by locals, as the visitors' buses use other gateways.
The residents are highlighting the point that Pihl, the company that constructed the highway bypassing the town and the other roads leading into the town at such high standard, is already in the employ of the wharf development and should be contracted to do Cornwall Street.
Concrete boulders were placed at the Foreshore Road western entrance to the town to direct the new traffic flow. These boulders are dangerous at nights as no reflector or warning signs are there to indicate these road restrictions.
New development
The danger is heightened in that persons, including some coming from abroad, may be visiting the town for Independence/ Emancipation, and may not know of the new development and could end up colliding with these.
Reports are that the original plan to relocate the Falmouth Market has been shelved as this market is not hindering the development. In fact, it is being touted as an attraction as many visitors are going to it and are finding this authentic Jamaican market a novelty. The market, however, is an eyesore, and if it is to remain, it cannot stay as is and would need overhauling.
When contacted on these issues, Mayor of Falmouth Councillor Collen Gager was uncertain as to the outcome of Cornwall Street.
"I am going to a meeting (soon) and that meeting should address some of those issues, so I wouldn't want to speak on those as yet until we have that meeting," Gager told The Gleaner. "Afterwards, I should be able to give more information."
On the matter of the boulders in the road, he said the necessary safety measure will soon be put in place. This is little consolation to the residents as they have been there for five months, or just before the arrival of the first ship.
After public outcry and the talk of protest, the dusty new transportation centre off Tharpe Street was paved, some of those small removable toilets and a small shed put in to appease the public, but since then nothing more was done. The bus and taxi operators are complaining that there is no running water and the temporary toilets have not been cleaned in weeks, causing them to emit a foul smell.
"The UDC is doing the design for both the shed and the bathrooms, we spoke on that just a few week ago, that is on the table and should be there soon," was the mayor's response.
Councillor Gager dispelled any rumours that the market will remain. "Not everything we hear is really the truth. The port has already taken away some of the lands there (market lands)," suggesting that the plans to relocate the market is irrevocable. No work is currently going on at the new location and he could not give a date for it to finish.
The mayor's indefinite answers, failing to put a time completion date on these work is no comfort to the residents. They say that while the 24-hour work that was put in to complete the wharf may not be necessary, they are calling for the expediting of work to complete the aspect of the development that is impacting the locals.
PHOTOS BY RICHARD MORAIS