The Ministry of Public Infra-structure will soon replace the non-functioning traffic lights at the junction of the Railway Embankment and Ogle Airport Road, Coordinator/Chief Works Officer, Geoffrey Vaughn on Tuesday disclosed.
Vaughn, in an invited comment, told Stabroek News that they are aware that the traffic lights at the junction are not operational, and related that a decision was recently taken to have them replaced. He explain-ed that within a few weeks the lights will be replaced.
Letter writer, Kit Nascimento, had last week highlighted the issue of the non-operational lights in a letter.
“There is also a traffic light which controls the crossing of the Railway Embankment Road and Ogle Airport Road which is left permanently flashing. The result is that anyone attempting to cross the Railway Embankment Road and the Ogle Airport Road, again, does so at the risk of their life,” he said.
Nascimento pointed out that the traffic lights are important at that junction since, “The Ogle Airport Road is the main road with appreciable traffic to and from the Eugene F. Correia International Airport.” He added, “At peak traffic hours in the morning and in the afternoon, this light should be turned on to full operation”.
Nascimento had further stated that lights along Sherriff Street, from the Rupert Craig Highway, have been dysfunctional. While he acknowledged that the non-functioning lights are as a result of the Sheriff Street road expansion works, he called for regular monitoring of the vehicular traffic.
“It’s noteworthy that as a result of the repairs being carried out on Sheriff Street, the Police Traffic Department has placed officers at Sheriff Street and crossing roads in the early morning hours, but only up to 9:00 am,” he said.
Nascimento added that, “There are other traffic lights on Sheriff Street that have not been working for some considerable time, for instance, at the crossing of Duncan and Sheriff streets.”
Vaughn told this newspaper that the contractor carrying out the road works is tasked with providing satisfactory traffic management.
Vaughn noted too, that the traffic lights at Duncan and Sheriff streets are also expected to be replaced, but said that will be done after the road’s upgrade is complete.
