Tashieka Mair, Gleaner Writer

Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett.

WESTERN BUREAU:

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett on Friday announced a J$90 million plan for the installation of stoplights and traffic management in the second city.

Bartlett made the announcement during a press conference with representatives of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce (MBCC), The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and the National Works Agency (NWA), among other stakeholders, at the Office of the Prime Minister in Montego Bay.

The project, dubbed the 'Traffic Management System' under the theme 'Tourism Partners with Transport', is expected to result in the free flow of traffic in the usually congested town when completed. This, he said, would add to the enhancement of the tourism product for which the second city is known.

"The city of Montego Bay has been choked by the growth of traffic in the town and the town has not grown or been developed to accommodate this sort of traffic that has resulted from more people moving into the town," Bartlett said.

Free movement

"Traffic management in the town is a critical part of the enhancement of the tourism product because, if we can't move around freely, then we will not be attractive to the visitors and we will not be efficient even for ourselves."

According to the minister, the project, which is being funded by the TEF and will be executed by the NWA, would start almost immediately.

He said $50 million from the fund would go towards the installation of some nine traffic signs along the corridor at Rose Hall. The minister urged the NWA to have this done before Easter as there have been accidents and road fatalities already and these signs would serve to protect the citizens, motorists and pedestrians alike.

MBCC President Pauline Reid, in registering her approval of the long- awaited project, said she was grateful to the TPDCo and the TEF for seeing it necessary to fund such a project as the constant standstill was impacting negatively on production in the town.

"In Montego Bay, we really need to sort out our traffic problems. I know that the dualisation of Bogue will start soon and this will impact tremendously on traffic development in the town," Reid added.