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Toll road lover - ambience and all
published: Friday | August 18, 2006 <DIV class=KonaBody>
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I wish to share my views on the matter of the Portmore Toll road and bridge. I have been a resident of Garveymeade since 1976. During those early years I was able to leave my home between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. in order to arrive in Mona by 8:30 a.m. I was able to accomplish that feat with little difficulty.
As the population grew and the number of vehicles increased, I found that I had to leave my home much earlier. The situation reached the point where I had to be up from 5 a.m., prepare breakfast and leave the house by the latest 6 a.m. There were times when I was late and was trapped by long lines of bumper-to-bumper traffic jams. Things were worse whenever an accident occurred; when that happened virtually everyone had to sleep in their vehicle.
The situation was so horrendous that a one-way out of Portmore was introduced in the mornings between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and in the evenings between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. While this one-way system was in place, motorists had to use the Mandela Highway if they were not going into the direction of the one-way. Where then is the logic from those who are now saying that the Mandela is not a suitable alternative?
I drove on the new Toll road on Saturday; there was a vast difference in terms of the lowering of congestion due to the tripling of the number of lanes in both directions. The speed limit has been increased to 70km per hour up from 50. There are some other positives; traffic from the Port Henderson Rd. drives on a fly-over, this eliminates the danger of crossing across the flow of vehicles from Kingston, it also eliminates the risk of accidents.
Transformation
Residents of Waterford and Independence City can turn right by the shooting range thereby avoiding the possible congestion on the straight route to the Mall. The Dyke Rd, which was considered a dangerous place due to the number of dead bodies found on it, has been transformed to a smooth surface and a link to the other leg of the highway to Bushy Park.
I am now able to leave my house 30 minutes later, have breakfast at home and arrive in Papine before 7:30 a.m.
Benefits
I urge those who voice resentment at the cost of the toll, and they are entitled tosuch resentment, to consider the following: the time saved, increased fuel efficiency, the absence of potholes, the reduced damage to vehicles and the ambience.
The Rio Cobre enters the sea close by, its colour changes during heavy rain to a golden brown and blends in the sea when there is no rain, hiding in the estuary. Then there are the pelicanssky-divingfor finned food hiding momentarily beneath the sea's surface while the fishermen eke out a living in their motorized canoes. The Blue Mountains are there watching from high above Irish Town and the Hellshire hills beckon you home before the night curtain.
I am, etc.,
C. MCKOY
Box 99
Kingston 7</DIV>
published: Friday | August 18, 2006 <DIV class=KonaBody>
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I wish to share my views on the matter of the Portmore Toll road and bridge. I have been a resident of Garveymeade since 1976. During those early years I was able to leave my home between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. in order to arrive in Mona by 8:30 a.m. I was able to accomplish that feat with little difficulty.
As the population grew and the number of vehicles increased, I found that I had to leave my home much earlier. The situation reached the point where I had to be up from 5 a.m., prepare breakfast and leave the house by the latest 6 a.m. There were times when I was late and was trapped by long lines of bumper-to-bumper traffic jams. Things were worse whenever an accident occurred; when that happened virtually everyone had to sleep in their vehicle.
The situation was so horrendous that a one-way out of Portmore was introduced in the mornings between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and in the evenings between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. While this one-way system was in place, motorists had to use the Mandela Highway if they were not going into the direction of the one-way. Where then is the logic from those who are now saying that the Mandela is not a suitable alternative?
I drove on the new Toll road on Saturday; there was a vast difference in terms of the lowering of congestion due to the tripling of the number of lanes in both directions. The speed limit has been increased to 70km per hour up from 50. There are some other positives; traffic from the Port Henderson Rd. drives on a fly-over, this eliminates the danger of crossing across the flow of vehicles from Kingston, it also eliminates the risk of accidents.
Transformation
Residents of Waterford and Independence City can turn right by the shooting range thereby avoiding the possible congestion on the straight route to the Mall. The Dyke Rd, which was considered a dangerous place due to the number of dead bodies found on it, has been transformed to a smooth surface and a link to the other leg of the highway to Bushy Park.
I am now able to leave my house 30 minutes later, have breakfast at home and arrive in Papine before 7:30 a.m.
Benefits
I urge those who voice resentment at the cost of the toll, and they are entitled tosuch resentment, to consider the following: the time saved, increased fuel efficiency, the absence of potholes, the reduced damage to vehicles and the ambience.
The Rio Cobre enters the sea close by, its colour changes during heavy rain to a golden brown and blends in the sea when there is no rain, hiding in the estuary. Then there are the pelicanssky-divingfor finned food hiding momentarily beneath the sea's surface while the fishermen eke out a living in their motorized canoes. The Blue Mountains are there watching from high above Irish Town and the Hellshire hills beckon you home before the night curtain.
I am, etc.,
C. MCKOY
Box 99
Kingston 7</DIV>
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