Several major corridors that had been closed for weeks, and in some cases months, as part of the New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP), have been re-opened in time for the holidays, but others are still closed.  Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said in November that 11 corridors will be open in time for Christmas.  According to the Public Works Ministry, several corridors have either opened or are expected to open before December 25.

The ministry advised that Robinson Road is opened to traffic between Baillou Hill Road and Fourth Street.  The Market Street junction has also been paved, according to a release.
The statement said all of Robinson Road is now paved and open to traffic, including the Market Street/Robinson Road junction.  The ministry said Prince Charles Drive between Pine Barren Road and just east of St. Augustine's College's back entrance will be paved by the end of this week.

Additionally, the statement said the closure of Wulff Road from the roundabout at Marathon to Kemp Road will be opened to traffic by Monday.  However, Baillou Hill Road South northbound, between Ameryllius and Independence Drive, is closed daily between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  This closure will last for one week to facilitate excavation for the installation of water mains and service ducts.

According to the ministry, the western side of the junction at Solider Road/East Street and the eastern side of the junction at Baillou Hill/Soldier Roads are currently closed to allow trenching for underground works.  The alternative route is Malcom Road.  The roadworks have been a controversial project, with many business people and motorists complaining about the inconveniences caused over many months.

But Euthlee Rolle-Brown, a small business owner on East Street South, said yesterday the roadwork has not been too bad for her.  "While they were working, the business was still going on and now [that] the road is just about completed we have more business than before," she said.  Rolle-Brown said she is happy that the road is complete.  "The traffic [has] been flowing very well," she said.

"Before, wow, it was just a long, long line [backed] up and people [were] just frustrated, but right now everything is just moving smooth."  Frank Augustine, who has been selling water near East Street South for over three years, said he is hopeful that with the completion of that road, business will pick up.  "The road works [were] very slow and sometimes the customers were just passing through," he said.

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