Four streets now ‘One Way’ thoroughfares
By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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Head of Traffic, Inspector Venetta Wyatt
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Four roads in the capital city –Basseterre- will become one-way streets effective Monday, October 13, 2008, in what was described by the Head of the Traffic Department as “a change long time coming”.
Head of Traffic, Inspector Venetta Wyatt informed that George, Brombill, Roxborough and Pitcairn Streets in Newtown will all be affected by the changes made. She explained that George Street, which presently allows for the two-way flow of traffic, will be mainly affected and all traffic would be travelling east (in the direction heading toward CEMACO).
“There’s a little street between C&C Super Foods and The Sands Complex, once you come up that street, you can go either way: you can turn left toward the Courthouse or right toward Fulton’s Bakery. Once you come down any of the other streets that run into George Street –Stainforth, Semple (Carty Alley), Roxborough, Pitcairn, Douglas and Brombill Streets –you will only be able to turn left onto George Street.
“Brombill Street (next to Fulton’s Bakery), that also will be made a one-way. You can only go down Brombill Street, that is, you can only go south toward the Bay Road. So, if you’re coming along the Bay Road, you can no longer turn left or right into Brombill Street; you would have to continue and turn into the street next to C&C Super Foods or Adlam Street.”
Inspector Wyatt also stated that Roxborough and Pitcairn Streets have always been troublesome areas in relation to traffic as many motorists would have to “ease out too far to see the oncoming traffic”. She explicitly stated that as of October 13, motorists may only drive into Roxborough Street from Pond Road and go straight down, but if they enter from George Street, they will not be able to go any further than Corn Street, the second street on the left. ~~Adz:Right~~
Vehicles can enter Pitcairn Street from Pond Road and go directly down, however if motorists enter from George Street, they may not go any further than the small road that intersects Pitcairn and Roxborough Streets (where Madhouse Alley is located).
Wyatt mentioned that there had been much talk and consultations especially via radio in relation to the issue and the public had accepted it especially persons living in the George Street area. She said that there is no foreseeable disadvantage posed to the businesses that are located on George Street or any of the other streets designated as ‘one-way’.
“It is good for all of us who drive or even walk on George Street because we have recognized that it has been highly congested at times. There are a lot of businesses along George Street and vehicular traffic travelling in both directions and vehicles are parked on the road. And so, we are doing this because we want people to be comfortable as they drive along the road, and the safest thing was to make it a one-way which would benefit all of us.
“We have started to put signs up and we are hoping that all of the signs will be up by Sunday for us to effect the change from Monday. Now, we are not saying that we will prosecute persons if they happen to go across there the wrong way by mistake on Monday or even Tuesday. It’s going to take a while and so we are giving persons even a week...”
The Head of Traffic mentioned that there are other streets around Basseterre that are under review to be changed into one-way streets and or have restrictions in relation to parking, in order to allow more fluent movement of traffic.
