Dear Editor,
Some two years ago I had written about the obvious lack of foresight or innovation in relation to the operational practices at the Harbour Bridge; particularly in light of the rapidly increasing number of newly licensed vehicles. Sadly, but not unsurprisingly, there has not been put in place, since then, any regulation that is discernible to the public to improve the traffic flow over this relic.
The two “innovations” I have observed are speed humps at the exits of the toll booths, and blanking the windows at certain booths, that previously facilitated the payment of tolls for either right or left-hand drive vehicles. Single occupants of left-hand drive vehicles now have to exit, and walk around the vehicle to make payment. Do these perhaps, assist traffic flows?
Tractors with overloaded trailers still access the bridge even at peak times, when they really should be totally banned. The facility is still blocked off to traffic at odd hours to facilitate the passage of extra wide and/or extra heavy vehicles. This begs the question why these vehicles are not assigned for accommodation between the hours of 1 and 4 am.
There is obviously no coordinated plan to deal with emergencies, as became painfully obvious on the morning of Monday, March 9. Confusion reigned on the West Bank on conclusion of the 5.30 am closure, when motorists trying unsuccessfully to access the bridge completely spread across the carriageway going south, so that vehicles heading north, were totally blocked. Chaos continued throughout the morning, for at approximately 10 am, eastbound traffic was proceeding at a crawl, and then eventually stopped; meanwhile no vehicles were traversing the westbound lane, however the bridge security personnel although present at the western booth still allowed vehicles onto the bridge on the westbound lane. Total gridlock and confusion obviously followed.
One would have thought that security (or the police) would have had a staff member equipped with a moped or similar vehicle to constantly traverse the bridge to deal expeditiously with bottlenecks that would result from vehicle breakdowns, idiotic drivers, and ingenuous Guyanese impatience. Electronic controls must be quickly incorporated.
The bottom line is that the inadequacy of the structure, its malfunctions and inline maintenance, and poor operational management is causing this country millions of dollars in wasted man-hours, vehicular wear and tear, and human stress almost daily.
Obviously any replacement holds a very low priority with the powers that be, and will not materialize for a number of years; in the interim, however, those vested with the authority to operate and maintain this structure are duty bound to display far more imagination, innovation, and vision. They owe the daily commuters and more particularly the residents of the West Demerara and Essequibo no less. We pray a serious incident will not soon result, although the daily influx of newly registered vehicles, and the opening of new housing areas and other businesses, seem to contradict this hope and prayer.
Yours faithfully,
Thomas Pinkerton
