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Last Updated: Dec 29, 2011 - 2:18:31 AM |
Charlene Collie, project engineer and public relations representative for the New Providence Road Improvement Project talks about the progress of the construction of Baillou Hill Road. (BIS photo/Patrick Hanna)
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Nassau, The Bahamas – The final paving of Baillou Hill Road from Robinson Road to Wulff Road will take place on the weekend of January 27 the Ministry of Public Works and Transport has announced.
Phase one of a one-way system for Baillou Hill Road and Market Street was implemented in March of last year. Traffic now travels one way northbound on Baillou Hill Road from Robinson Road to Wulff Road and one way southbound on Market Street from Wulff Road to Robinson Road
“The roads will be closed for one day for road paving and we are asking the general public to use First Street as an alternate,” said Charlene Collie, project engineer and public relations representative. Paving is from Robinson Road to Bahama Avenue and the side verges.
Collie said work on Baillou Hill Road is progressing as expected despite the unknown underground utilities discovered after the investigation. The first section (from Robinson Road to Wulff Road) is expected be completed by March.
“We’ve partnered with all utility companies to ensure that installation of the work is meeting specifications. The intention of the work is to build an internationally acceptable roadway and not just to accommodate what we have here,” she said.
The original sidewalks on Baillou Hill Road were a cause for concern because they were not handicap accessible and were not up to international standards, Collie said.
“We have a heavy urban area and as a result of high pedestrian traffic from the neighbourhood and the schools we had to improve the sidewalks.
“The new sidewalks can accommodate heavy pedestrian traffic and are handicap accessible.”
She explained that the narrower width of Baillou Hill Road by one ft is to assist with reducing the speed of traffic.
“Baillou Hill Road was originally 22ft from the pavement. It is now 20ft from curb to curb. The lanes are 10ft wide but those lanes are designed for one lane of traffic on both sides and are to assist with reducing the speed of traffic.
“We are aware of the concerns about the two lanes travelling in one direction and that speed could increase, but that is a design measure to assist with speed along the roadway,” Collie added.
© Copyright 2011 by thebahamasweekly.com
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