New section of West Basseterre Bypass Road completed

By Melissa Bryant
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MOTORISTS seeking to escape traffic congestion in Basseterre now have another route they can traverse with the opening of a section of the West Basseterre Bypass Road on Saturday, December 7.

Drivers are now able to pass through the area from the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport round-about at the junction of the Kim Collins Highway to the round-about at Gillard’s Service Station leading to St. Peter’s.

The EC$18M West Basseterre Bypass Road Project is designed to link the western part of St. Kitts via Camps Village to the remainder of the island by avoiding downtown Basseterre and allowing easier and safer road journeys in a reduced period of time and a reduced traffic flow.

Construction on the West Basseterre Bypass Road began in October 2006 and was originally slated to be completed by August of this year.

However, due to a tragic bridge collapse in May that killed one man and injured two others, construction on the project is still underway.

According to a press release disseminated by the Communications Unit Office of the Prime Minister (CUOPM), the newly-opened section spans 1.118 miles of road and is 47 percent of project.

Head of Traffic Department Inspector Venetta Wyatt praised the opening of the section, hailing it as “another effort to make road use more convenient and expedient”.  ~~Adz:Right~~

“Many persons drive into town and are caught up in rush hour traffic and the overall congestion. Now, if they want to go to the airport or to head towards Conaree, they can do so without the pressure and the delay of slow-moving traffic.

“Big trucks carrying supplies can also utilise this area as part of their routes instead of holding up traffic on the main road,” she explained.

However, Wyatt issued a warning to persons who would use the road for dangerous activities such as drag racing.

“Drag racing is an offence and anyone found guilty of doing so will be charged immediately. Persons must ensure that they do not participate in any activity that would endanger the well-being of other road users.

“The newly-opened section is there for us all to enjoy, so let us go about enjoying it under the guidelines of the law,” she advised.

Statistics released by the Ministry of Public Works indicate that the number of vehicles using the roads in St. Kitts has increased fourfold since 1995 and there has been a corresponding increase in wear and tear of the road structure around the island.

Efforts by SKNVibes to contact a representative of the Ministry of Public Works were unsuccessful.