Garth Rattray | Who must die, NWA?

There is a community in St. Mary, near Ian Flemming International Airport, where the main thoroughfare joins the [busy] North Coast Highway. To the left of the intersection is a blind corner. To the right is another blind corner and the brow of a hill. This constitutes a triple hazard. 

Because entering the community is risky and exiting is extremely dangerous, the citizens installed (and maintains) a pair of parabolic traffic mirrors in an effort to mitigate the risk of injury or death at that intersection. 

Despite the mirrors, turning left when exiting requires that they accelerate quickly because there is often a motor vehicle [that they cannot see] ascending the brow of the hill and rounding the blind corner to their right.  

Attempting to turn right when exiting poses significantly greater danger because of the triple hazard. They always [literally] take their lives in their hands every time that they exit. 

Innumerable route taxis regularly ‘fly by’, in both directions. Many drivers have been influenced by some crazy and undisciplined taxi drivers, who refuse to consider the consequences of speeding, especially around a blind corner and over the brow of a hill. Many drivers believe that they own the road and that the rest of us are trespassers who don’t belong and are therefore expendable. 

Because of the constant danger and inaction from the National Works Agency (NWA), the worried citizens of this community provided a pair of large (to specification) “Concealed Entrance” signs and installed them with the permission and guidance of the NWA. Unfortunately, hurricane Melissa removed one of them. 

Although the threat to life is very obvious, the NWA continues to do absolutely nothing about this very dangerous and untenable situation. The government body responsible for safety on our roads is failing to reduce the risk to the lives of the citizens from this community. I am at a loss to fathom why the NWA remains oblivious to the blatant hazard caused by those double-blind corners, combined with the brow of a hill. Drivers cannot see approaching traffic, especially from the side with the blind corner and the brow of the hill, until the traffic is right upon them.  

The community has directly contacted the NWA and outlined the concerns on several occasions. A [hard copy] letter was mailed to the local manager of the NWA years ago. This was followed up by an email, then several WhatsApp messages – all to no avail.  When that effort failed to bear fruit, WhatsApp messages were exchanged with the regional head – again, to no avail.

It was communicated to both individuals that the dangerous intersection is so serious that it deserves traffic-actuated lights that use sensors to detect vehicles attempting to exit the community and trigger a light change. Failing that, it deserves yellow flashing lights on the main road to serve as a warning to proceed with caution. 

If that request were denied, the citizens asked for speed bumps to be installed on the highway (in both directions). At the very least, they proffered the idea of rumble strips to alert and slow down the North Coast Highway traffic approaching the dangerous, blind corners and the brow of the hill. To date, nothing, zero, nada, nil, zilch, nought has been done about that extremely dangerous intersection.

In the correspondences to both managers, it was carefully and repeatedly explained that the entrance is alarmingly dangerous. Terms like “very, very scary” was used to describe that intersection. They were repeatedly told that the citizens are not safe, that every time that they exit, their hearts are in their mouths, that near misses happen all the time, and that several crashes have occurred. It was explained that it is only a matter of time before someone is killed.

 The managers were also sent aerial photographs of the intersection so that the dangerous double-blind corners and brow of the hill could be appreciated by them. Still photos of the intersection, and videos of the dangers involved in exiting, along with a video of a near miss were sent to them. Terms like “plight” and “lives are in danger” were used in communications. 

It was further highlighted that the community has a high percentage of retirees and elderly individuals whose ability to evade danger at that intersection is significantly compromised. It was even explained that, among the residents are individuals who are of extreme importance to our nation … they too must face the constant danger. 

Three years ago, these were the responses from the local and regional heads respectively: “The matter was referred to corporate office for their advice. I communicated with them regarding clarification. Will check back.” And, “Message sent to Planning Directorate for traffic engineers to assist. Will get back to you as I get a feedback.” 

After a year of waiting for the promised “Will check back” and “Will get back to you as I get a feedback”, the citizens communicated to the managers that, since their desperate pleas for help, rumble strips were installed on the nearby Stewart Town main road (in Huddersfield), and in Oracabessa. That was two years ago. Although the situation is grave (more dangerous) at the intersection with the triple hazard, and despite repeated, desperate efforts from the frightened citizens, the dilemma of that community is being totally ignored.  

The NWA mission includes keeping citizens safe. I wonder who must die before they act.

Garth Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice, and author of ‘The Long and Short of Thick and Thin’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.