Motorists urged to be cautious
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE motoring public is being urged to exercise caution when driving across Old Road Bay especially since recent rainfall has led to rock slides taking place in that area.
An urgent bulletin which was released today (Aug. 4) by the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force’s Traffic Department advised that “there is a present hazard from rock slides” which has prompted the Department release the advisory.
Although it does not indicate when, the bulletin notes that rock slides have taken place and as such, “drivers are encouraged to be alert and exercise caution while driving in the area. Traffic cones have been laid by the Old Road Police Station/Traffic Department to guide your transit. Please exercise due care and caution…”
For years, motorists have expressed concern about the area. Whenever heavy rainfall is experienced, rocks become dislodged from the mountain and fall onto the main road, some of which, SKNVibes understands, have fallen directly into the path of oncoming vehicles.
On the other hand, ever so often, traffic accidents occur within that area, and several of the vehicles involved have driven off the road and end up in the sea.
Many suggestions have been made about how these issues can be remedied yet to date, nothing substantial has been done.
SKNVibes spoke with the Director of Public Works, Cromwell Williams, who explained that to this end, a proposal for the upcoming budgetary year has been forwarded to the relevant Ministry.
“We have put forward a proposal to the Ministry of Finance and Sustainable Development to implement a project to deal with the slope stabilization across there…for the next budget year, 2017.
I believe that once we begin to address the mountain side we would also look at the sea side as well. I know that when we did the last major rehabilitation to the Island Main Road, I recall that we had put some barriers across there but they didn’t last very long…
“I think once we decide to undertake major works across there, I don’t believe that we will work on just the mountain side and not - at the same time - also address concerns on the sea side. I would venture to say that we would want to do something comprehensive…”
