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Motorists complain of traffic buildups at raised crosswalk in RT

- Motorists complain of major traffic buildups at traffic lights during peak hours
The seemingly popular point for hitching a ride in Road Town is at the recently constructed raised crosswalk in the vicinity of Crafts Alive. Photo: VINO
Traffic in the Road Town area 'has not changed' with the construction of the raised crosswalk at Crafts Alive, residents say. Photo: VINO
Traffic in the Road Town area 'has not changed' with the construction of the raised crosswalk at Crafts Alive, residents say. Photo: VINO
The problem of traffic buildup usually arises when traffic is reduced to one lane when work in the area is in progress. Photo: VINO
The problem of traffic buildup usually arises when traffic is reduced to one lane when work in the area is in progress. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Motorists are complaining that there is now a regular occurrence of traffic buildup at the traffic lights on Water Front Drive especially during peak hours and it is not the heavy concentration of vehicles that is the main cause of the problem.

Persons hitching rides to get home in the afternoon during peak hours has been identified as the main problem. Some persons have also said they do not see the need for the erecting of the bypass high rise at in the Craft Alive area as they are of the opinion that a nicely designed sign board and a pedestrian crossing would have fulfilled the intended purpose.

“Now since they put up the high rise here every body making it into a taxi and hitch-a-ride point stop,” said a resident. According to the concerned citizen the practice causes an unnecessary build up of traffic at the traffic lights area during peak hours. “Sometime you there at that traffic lights for such a long time that the light changes four, five times and you still don't get to pass.”

Another resident said that he does not feel the decision to build a high rise was carefully thought out, “Yes it looks beautiful to the eyes of the beholders, for me it is not a big thing for the tourist but it had good intentions but again I don’t feel they give it much thought before putting it in.”

A local resident Fern Y. Melone told Virgin Island’s News Online that she  thinks the solution to the problem would be the instituting of a law, which prohibits taking in or putting off passengers at that location. “This is a nice thing, I personally like it because it provides a direct link to Main Street from Craft Alive but what has to be done to stop this building up of traffic at the traffic lights is that they need to put traffic cops there and stop people from putting off or taking in passengers at that spot especially during the peak hours, let’s say from 4 to 6 [P.M.], no picking up or putting off people there.”

It was also expressed that the traffic is usually at its worse when the road has to be blocked and transformed into a one-lane to facilitate road works. “We know that is temporary but here again, like the lady said, we should have some traffic patrol or leave traffic at that point especially during the peak hours.”

The erecting of the high rise in the area was an initiative put into fruition to facilitate the easy access and link to Main street with the intention of improving business activities especially by tourist, in that area. It is part of the Road Town Development project.  

30 Responses to “Motorists complain of traffic buildups at raised crosswalk in RT”

  • Music (20/03/2013, 09:05) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    But it has no provision for wheel chair access!
  • simple solution (20/03/2013, 09:14) Like (6) Dislike (132) Reply
    Officer Callwood, please station yourself there during peak hours.

    While talking of officer Callwood - when will we see other police officers as dedicated as this man?
    • . (20/03/2013, 09:48) Like (5) Dislike (35) Reply
      Vino needs to do a story on callwood for he's the only police doing his job
      • spring (20/03/2013, 11:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        o lawd olawd....
        • who will (22/03/2013, 16:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          Again this thing that Mark build has led to squeeling tires and lots of horns, but I ask, who's going to step in and secure the public from these road-rage-fueled, self-entitled maniacs?

    • wise-up (20/03/2013, 22:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      i agree 100%; but remember most of the officers are non BV Islanders(only the pay-cheque got them here....can you say money-gram!!!!!)
  • links (20/03/2013, 09:24) Like (16) Dislike (91) Reply
    These people need to stop telling lies. traffic is always bad in that area during rush hour traffic. every city in the world has rush hour traffic what's the point. people been catching rides there forever. traffic is always bad if you cant wait use the bypass over the hill simple.
    • @ links (20/03/2013, 09:33) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
      The Devil 'being the devil's advocate' ? ? ? ?
      Yuh jokey, boss.
  • Hmmmm (20/03/2013, 09:27) Like (17) Dislike (50) Reply
    Another well thought out government project!!!

    A raised cross walk after a stop light and before two more cross walks. Traffic is backed up? No??? Cant be?? How could that happen? Vanterpool probably got this idea from the same moron who said traffic lights could work on a roundabout.

    Simple....If you are keeping the raised cross walk, remove some of the other cross walks. you obviously cant have traffic stopping every 27 feet...then again this is the BVI
  • Hmph (20/03/2013, 09:58) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    The real problem in the morning is the combination of taxis manouvering around the ferry dock, and the bump over the grate turning into the road next to the commercial court. When that road was closed during the commercial court refurbishment, all the traffic disappeared.
    We should fix the bump, and stop right turns into that road.
    • ... (20/03/2013, 21:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      exactly. it only takes one extra second to drive over the raised crosswalk. the problems are elsewhere.
  • - (20/03/2013, 10:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    pure bull!
  • ccc (20/03/2013, 10:14) Like (5) Dislike (35) Reply
    This high rise or cross walk is a shameless disgrace. Same as Fraser traffic light at round about.
  • Amazing (20/03/2013, 12:36) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    its amazing ...people have been catching rides from that location for years...There has been traffic there for years...cmon man this is not what we need. The country is bad enough as is, unneccesary propaganda aint helping
  • facts man (20/03/2013, 16:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    Sadly also, one does not need any credentials to be a Gov't minister that why they do so much $h1tt to the country

  • up town (20/03/2013, 17:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    this thing Mark build is Not a good idea.
  • BREAKING NEWS (20/03/2013, 17:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where is the outcry with this silly speed bump before the traffic light? See when Frazer did it there was all kind of natching of teeth, now the boy from Anguilla did the same fate and not a mouse say nothing when it has the traffic in ah mess...deeds set of nasty one eye hypocrites in tis place mehson
    • sea cows bay massive (20/03/2013, 20:05) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      I will continue to say Julien Frazer is the man with the Plan. thank God For him.
      • the rock (21/03/2013, 07:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        and i will continue to say that u are an idiot!!
        • @ the rock (21/03/2013, 17:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          Personally, I don't give a darm what that NDP bleeding heart "the rock" thinks, they don't live here.
  • say so (20/03/2013, 19:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Most of the traffic is being held up because persons do not want to wait on the traffic lights and use the side road coming out there from the taxi stand. Then persons would stop to let them out and that creates the majority of the problem. So I'm thinking its not really the bump as its not as high as a regular speed bump and you can ease right over. However, a cross-walk would have done the job better.
    • tone down (20/03/2013, 20:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      look Mr. Vanterpool:
      Please proceed with caution before you place anymore of those ugly big speed bumps in the town and especially before or after a traffic light
  • ... (20/03/2013, 21:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    chups. Tortola ppl could be so sickening. Always quick to point a finger! EVEN BEFORE the crosswalk was raised ppl CRUISED passed this area, looking news, stopping to pick ppl up from the side of the road, and just plain being inconsiderate. The traffic has ALWAYS been slow in this area. The traffic light turns green and ppl take FOREVER to roll off and those that are far behind miss the light and have to wait for it to turn green again. And the same SLOW movement continues to happen. The raised sidewalk has nothing to do with a darn thing. Learn to drive yall vehicles and stop GAZING!!! If anything is holding up traffic, it's the movement in and out of the ferry dock that is often CONGESTED.
  • wise-up (20/03/2013, 22:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    that money should have gone to the hospital project; just saying
    • to Mark Vantrpool (22/03/2013, 16:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      .this new speed bump it made you feel we are driving in a uncivilised country.....

  • GIVE AND TAKE (22/03/2013, 03:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Traffic is not held up by the crosswalk. It is the ferry dock traffic and all the people hitching rides in that area. Though, two crosswalks in close proximaty will be a problem. Remove the one a few yards down in front of Pussers. It is no longer necessary.
  • uuuuuu (22/03/2013, 16:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    At some point it would be nice to see some kind of regular traffic police presence


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