For more details about all the improvements on the way, here are two articles from December outlining the plans that are already underway - one from the Mirror and one from the Observer.

http://www.westernmirror.com/index.p...link/5929.html

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/weste...egril_13201052

As stated, the issue has been in development for years. As with any major roadway infrastructure changes, there had to be the proper studies, measures and various solutions discussed before implementing any such changes. Improperly implemented changes can lead to other unexpected issues and problems that would then need to be dealt with.

Traffic control measures such as the traffic lights and medians that are in the works are much preferable to the speed bumps and humps being discussed here by some. As any city planner or road planning website will mention, putting speed bumps or humps on any major thoroughfare (which the beach road is) is not only impractical but also extremely dangerous. While Norman Manley Blvd is a major artery for western Jamaica, it is also used as an emergency route for the surrounding areas and to place such measures as speed bumps on the road is dangerous for emergency vehicles and should never be used. All knowledgeable city planners and road developers know this simple fact. To do so can cost lives instead of saving them.

Lisa and I have been noticing the placement of traffic pattern monitors to measure the flow, speed, number of vehices, etc. placed on the beach road for quite some time and now we are seeing the fruits of the labour that has already been done. There are three sets of lights installed on the beach road to be used as traffic control measures as well as pedestrian crossings. Sidewalks and medians are coming next and should be completed by the end of this year. And as for pedestrians, there is still need to use the common sense practice of "stop, look and listen" and "look both ways" before you cross the street that we all learned as children.

As mentioned in the articles, as soon as the work on the beach road is finished, the concentration will focus on the West End Road known as One Love Drive. Similar solutions including the sidewalks are being planned for there as well.

And VVHT, I already posted a picture of our latest ambulance at the fire station back in August of last year... (grin)

http://negril.com/forum/showthread.p...Station-is-now