OFF THE RAILS

For years, protective railings installed along the sidewalks in Half-Way Tree have suffered extensive damage due to motor-vehicle crashes. Despite their purpose – ensuring pedestrian safety in one of the St Andrew capital’s busiest intersections – most were left unrepaired. The move to fix one major area a few weeks ago sparked mixed reactions from residents and business operators.

The most noticeable repairs were made to a section near the iconic Half-Way Tree clock, looking north towards Constant Spring Road and across from the popular Coaster bus pickup spot.

According to small business operator Franz Marshall, who has worked in the area for years, the timing of the repairs was not surprising.

“Sista, thank God for the election. You know how long this rail ‘round de clock damage, and nobody nuh pay it any mind? Years. But election a come now, and dem want it look good pon TV camera, so it get repaired. Well, thank God. Dat’s all mi haffi say. A election repair dis,” he said to The Gleaner.

The newly repaired area is directly in front of where the stage is expected to be set for Sunday’s Jamaica Labour Party mass rally, where expectations are high that a date for the impending general election will be announced.

LONG PLANNED BUT NOT ENOUGH FUNDS

Responding to speculation that the repairs were politically motivated, National Works Agency (NWA) Communications Manager Stephen Shaw clarified that the project had been in the pipeline.

“Funding for the rails came in under a special programme, and that’s how we (NWA) were able to get it done at the time. It was done for the safety of pedestrians to protect them from the dangers of traffic in the very busy thoroughfare,” Shaw said Thursday as noticeable repair work to a small section, near the iconic clock, looking north towards Constant Spring Road, and ending at the intersection at Constant Spring-Suthermere-South Odean and bus park traffic lights.

However, it is the only section of the area being repaired of several hundred metres of rails erected years ago. There is damage to every other section where rails were installed and the least impacted is the loss of at least one panel from about 80 metres around the transport centre on South Odean Avenue, where the damaged piece has exposed ends.

“We had a contract valued at $16.9 million, and the works were done between the early parts of May and late June. The area done was that which was targeted, and we had been looking to fix the rails in Half-Way Tree from a pedestrian safety standpoint, and we used that which were allocated in the first instance in this way,” Shaw explained.

He said it is the intention of the NWA to target some of the other spaces as soon as additional funds are sourced to rehabilitate areas damaged by accidents or which have fallen into general disrepair.

Shaw said that while the contract sum appeared to be high, the iron used to root the structure was expensive.

While the recent repairs have been welcomed, they represent only a small portion of the several hundred metres of railings that were initially installed by the NWA years ago to boost pedestrian safety.

Pedestrians are the joint third-highest group of fatalities since the start of the year with 41 deaths (17%), the same as passengers of private motor vehicles. Motorcyclists lead, accounting for 64 deaths (27%), while private motor vehicle drivers account for 47 deaths (20%).

During a site visit, The Gleaner observed broken rails, exposed metal ends, missing screws, and sections that could be dislodged with little force. In some areas, the damage has reduced sidewalk space, increasing risk to pedestrians. Across the Half-Way Tree area – on Constant Spring Road, South Odean Avenue, near York Pharmacy, the post office, Hope Road, and Mandela Park – multiple sections remain damaged or entirely missing.

Senior citizen Marion Simmonds, who uses a walking aid, said that while the rails offered some protection, they require ongoing maintenance.

“Even with the rails, you are not safe, but at least they give a little protection, for the vehicles will lick dem first before dem lick you,” said the senior citizen as he walked along South Odean Avenue.

The railings have long borne the brunt of traffic incidents, including a high-profile crash involving sprint icon Usain Bolt in 2012, whose BMW flipped multiple times near the transport centre. Other damage has been caused by taxis, buses, private vehicles, and even police units.

erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com