While many motorists expressed surprise that yesterday's back-to-school traffic was not as severe as expected, today might be a different story, when more than 53,000 public school students across New Providence return to classrooms. However, Superintendent Ken Strachan, who heads the police traffic division, said Monday's traffic was alleviated in great part because contractors for the New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP) worked late into the night on Sunday in an effort to open all roads by Monday morning; though they still fell short of that goal.

Strachan said most of the work was finished but work on Old Trail Road and Robinson Road was not complete, but he claimed those partial closures had minimal impact on traffic in those areas. He claimed rain was a factor on Sunday as well as yesterday, but said he believes once the weather improves those roads would be opened quickly.

During a tour of the NPRIP last Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development Philip Brave Davis warned motorists that Bernard Road might not be open in time for the opening of school. Although one lane remained closed yesterday, the first layer of asphalt was also laid on Sunday night, allowing motorists to travel along that road.

The roundabout at the intersection of Wulff, Village, Bernard and Soldier Roads has been removed and the new four-way intersection will feature traffic lights, which have yet to be installed. Strachan said there were reports of traffic congestion on Eastern Road and Sir Milo Butler Highway around 7 a.m. yesterday.

He added that there were other challenges on Prince Charles Drive, Village Road and Soldier Road, however, officers from the traffic division were stationed at 40 strategic points throughout New Providence as early as 6 a.m., to make sure things flowed smoothly. He said this will continue in the weeks to come.

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