Seasonal traffic changes for St Ann
Published: Saturday | December 19, 2009
As the Christmas season approaches, it is expected that in the major towns across St Ann there will be a significant increase in the levels of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Given this, the St Ann Parish Council in conjunction with the police will implement special measures to ensure the smooth flow of traffic as well as the safety of pedestrians during the holiday period.
The council said that during the season citizens will see a number of changes, particularly the re-routing of traffic within the major towns.
They include:
The following changes will be made effective Monday, December 21:
(a) Vehicles entering the town from Harbour Street and the A.G.R. Byfield Highway via Bravo Street will be diverted left on to Park Avenue and on to Main Street in the vicinity of the Total gas station.
(b) Park Avenue will be operated as a one-way, running from Bravo Street; therefore, vehicles will not be able to enter Park Avenue from the Main Street intersection.
(c) Bravo Street will become a one-way, running from the intersection with Main Street at the police station in a northerly direction to the intersection with Musgrave Street.
(d) Directional signs will be erected to assist motorists in these arrangements. These arrangements will be effective from 6 a.m. on Monday, December 21, until 8 a.m. Saturday, December 26.
(e) On Christmas Eve, by 5 p.m., Main Street will be blocked off to vehicular traffic from the intersection with Bravo Street up to Wharf Street. This is to ensure the safety of the high level of pedestrians expected to be in this area on that day.
(f) Vending will be allowed on Main Street after 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
(g) Vending activities will also be allowed on the lower section of Market Street (from the clock towards Harbour Street) from 6 a.m. Wednesday, December 23, until 8 a.m. Sunday, December 27.
(h) Vendors who are interested in selling in this area are asked to register with the market clerk as they will have to pay for the use of this area for vending.
The following arrangements will be effective from 5 p.m. on Monday, December 21, until 8 a.m. December 28, or otherwise as indicated by the police:
(a) Vehicles entering the town from the North Coast will be detoured at the 'Keep Left' sign at the Cool Oasis gas station in an easterly direction along Huntley Avenue.
(b) Vehicles will then turn on to Liberty Drive and continue through Orange Hill to Top Road.
(c) Commuters will also be given the option of turning down to St Hilda's Drive where they can park on the sides of the street or go directly to the Municipal Car Park. Public passenger vehicles (PPV) will also be able to access the Transportation Centre from St Hilda's Drive.
(d) Commuters who choose to continue on to Top Road will be able to turn left if they are going to Alexandria or turn right if they are going to Brown's Town, Standfast or Trelawny.
(e) Light vehicles destined for Standfast and Trelawny will make a left turn at South Avenue to Musgrave Square while heavy-duty and other traffic bound for the town centre will continue along Top Road.
)f) Vehicular traffic from Trelawny, Brown's Town or Alexandria destined for the North Coast will be able to use the same route in the reverse direction while travelling around the town instead of through the town.
(g) No parking will be allowed on the Main Road between the Cool Oasis gas station and the intersection, to Minard Hill.
Vending
(h) On Christmas Eve, traffic re-routing will be done so that the town will be able to accommodate the huge number of pedestrians and vendors who attend the Christmas Eve Festival in this town every year.
(i) No street vending will be allowed in the town except in areas designated for vending.
(j) Vending activities will only be allowed in the Car Park from 5 a.m. Monday, December 21, until 8 a.m. Sunday, December 27.
(k) Persons who wish to vend in the Car Park are asked to register with the manager of the Brown's Town Market prior to that day, as all vendors will be required to pay in order to sell their products on Christmas Eve.
The following changes will be made effective Monday, December 21:
(a) The one-way on Main Street will be extend all the way to Pineapple Place at the craft market.
(b) There will be no street vending allowed in Ocho Rios as there is adequate space within the market property. All vending must be done within the market.
Vendors are being reminded that there are public-health requirements relating to preparation and sale of food. They should, therefore, consult the Health Department or clinics in their areas before completing arrangements for the sale of food to the public.
