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Traffic lights shut off in Road Town due to blackout

- backup power system also fails; traffic chaos averted as power restored some time later
Power was restored to the traffic lights at the junction of Station Avenue and James Walter Francis Drive. Photo: VINO
Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) said that while he still had to get confirmation, he strongly believed that the outage of the traffic lights had to do with a power outage in Road Town. Photo: VINO
Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) said that while he still had to get confirmation, he strongly believed that the outage of the traffic lights had to do with a power outage in Road Town. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The traffic lights at the junction of the James Walter Francis Drive and Station Avenue were not working during peak traffic hours today May 20, 2016 putting the travelling public at risk at what is known to be a very busy intersection which can be perilous to try to cross from one side to another without guidance.

It was sometime around 1:45 pm when this news site was traversing along Station Avenue with the intention of turning on to the James Walter Francis Drive when it was observed that the traffic lights were off. Further, there was no presence of police officers assisting in the directing of traffic.

Given the bend in the James Walter Francis Drive, it was difficult for persons proceeding either to East End or in the opposite direction to properly see whether the way was clear for them to proceed. However, at that time there was no traffic build up.

Contacted on the matter, Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) said that while he still had to get confirmation, he strongly believed that the outage of the traffic lights had to do with a power outage in Road Town.

In addition, he said that the backup system which usually powers the traffic lights in power outages failed, thus resulting in the traffic lights being off.

11 Responses to “Traffic lights shut off in Road Town due to blackout”

  • Mark of the Beast (20/05/2016, 17:54) Like (15) Dislike (4) Reply
    Everything is failing under mark's department.
  • wize up (20/05/2016, 18:29) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    a backup generator will be installed at those traffic lights only when someone get kill; i remember when the traffic lights were switched off at midnight until someone lost their life; now the lights on 24 hours...somewhat shameful with a budget of over 300 million dollars and government can not install some form of backup power for the traffic lights..... we can find millions to give an airline
  • rattie (20/05/2016, 19:17) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Bvi so backwards banana republic if you ask me
    • 911 (22/05/2016, 11:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Many people still are of the opinion that we are in a post partisan politics period.
  • road runner (20/05/2016, 21:02) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    And for crying out loud stop with the stupid arrow light coming towards town to go by Tortola Sports Club!!! That should be a separate lane for that instead of backing up traffic trying to head straight in town when there light is green and to head Sports Club is red (both in the same lane). Yes this was done in VIP govt but FIX IT!!!!

    As for the lane coming out of old hospital to head down towards gift house, cars need to STOP parking there by Romasco House impeding drivers from seeing what is coming (create a NO PARKING THERE PLEASE)
    • Music (21/05/2016, 02:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Its rhe first spot by the corner where a very large SUV parks. Its probably the boss's car, but that spot should be blocked off. Been thinking this for years, but who to report to?
    • Hmm (21/05/2016, 12:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I totally agree vehicles needs to stop parking on the outer area. That very same intersection there by Romsco building needs a traffic light also. Another area in need of a traffic light is the intersection in town by Ashly building and Virgin Queen. Roar Town is overcrowded with drivers and those two areas are in desperate need of traffic lights.
  • Anonymous (21/05/2016, 00:12) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    My people of the BVI. When are you to stop voting for people who do not have the county at heart. Remember these politicians work for us it's not the other way around. We evaluate them from their performance and then get rid of them if they are not performing that's how it works. Sadly this is done every 4 years. I have mark a certain politician face (I am not going to call names) whose store was doing badly when he was not a politician but has been successful after he was elected. I have marked and keep my eyes on that marked store. Yes I know politicians do not make an eye catching salary but one can see some are in it for the benifit of having control of the people's money to waste it in corruption. I am saying my people lets stand up together against these corruptions. They have to answer to us we are the boss not them.
    • Who to vote for (22/05/2016, 06:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The problem is at this sad time in history you have to pick the lesser of the evils. VIP is not together and PPP only surfaces for election so what are you going to do.

      Though not a political fan I must say we to often choose to think negatively. As for the improvement in the store's peromance perhaps since the politician now has another source of income to support himself he can now redirect profits that would have otherwise have to be used as salary back into the business and perhaps even supplement somemore from his political salary which by the way with allowances is quite a handsome figure.
  • doesn't matter (22/05/2016, 16:10) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    No one stops at that light anyway - almost got killed on a fault basis making a right from the sports club.


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