Nassau, Bahamas -- Minister of Public Works and Transport the Hon Neko C Grant met with over 20 business owners on Monday to hear concerns regarding the one-way system implemented on March 30 for Baillou Hill Road and Market Street.
Traffic on these corridors travels northbound on Baillou Hill Road from Robinson to Wulff Road and southbound on Market Street from Wulff to Robinson Road.
Senior Ministry officials present included Permanent Secretary, Colin Higgs; Undersecretary, Nicole Campbell; Deputy Director, George Hutcheson; coordinator of the New Providence Road Improvement Project, Khader Alikhan and project civil engineer in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Charlene Collie-Harris.
Mr Grant said he is satisfied that some of the disruption in business that is presently being experienced by business owners on Baillou Hill Road is a direct result of the construction work that is taking place there.
“Traffic is flowing extremely well between Wulff and Robinson Roads and we feel that the same thing will happen on Baillou Hill Road once the construction has been completed,” Mr Grant said.
“While I assured the business owners that I heard their concerns, I also respectfully asked them to give the project a chance.
“Wait until we would have completed the work between Robinson Road and Wulff Road, and for the traffic to flow for those persons who might have been reluctant to stop to their various business houses because of the road construction,” he said.
“I believe that based on what transpired here today, there is a need for us to put up the various models and show the business owners what would happen to the roads of New Providence, Market Street and Baillou Hill Road, in particular, if we did nothing over the next five years, if we did nothing over the next 10 years and if we did nothing over the next 15 years so that they can get a greater appreciation for what is being done.
“At the end of the day it is important for us to accomplish what we seek to do and that is to benefit the greatest number of persons possible.”
Mr Grant emphasized that there is a need to get the growing population who reside in the south to work or school in the north.
“We are aware that there are only a number of streets that would allow us to do that. They are Fox Hill in the East, East Street, Baillou Hill Road and Market Street.”
He explained that consideration was given to widening East Street, but too many challenges resulted from that. “We had no choice based on the reports than to make Market Street from Duke Street to Robinson Road one way travelling south, and from Baillou Hill Road to Robinson Road and to Duke Street travelling north.”
