Dug-up roads causing traffic mayhem in Kingston 6

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Madness, of the traffic variety, is taking place in Kingston 6. Gridlock is the order of the day in the Liguanea area, and not just during morning and evening rush hours either. The cause is not hard to see, but extremely difficult to understand. How could the authorities have permitted Wellington Drive, Liguanea Avenue, Seymour Avenue, Retreat Avenue, and Seaview Avenue to be dug up and rendered unusable simultaneously?

What did they expect to happen to the traffic which packs these roads daily? How could they have failed to see the chaos that would result in the Liguanea area as traffic displaced from these roads shifts to the already overcrowded roads that remain open?

These are some of the happenings that make the citizen wonder at the competence of some public officials. Seymour Avenue is particularly egregious because it is such a major thoroughfare which has been rendered mostly unusable for most of this year. That remains the case to date.

Is anyone held accountable for this fiasco? I know various officials will try to make the case that improvements to water, sewage, and road surfaces which will result from this will be worth it. I say ‘hogwash’. The unfortunate reality facing motorists daily in the Liguanea area need not have been. What requirement demanded five busiest roads in this relatively small area to be rendered mostly unusable simultaneously? This, mind you, is not a short-term inconvenience either, but has been going on for months.

Where is planning in public works?

MICHAEL NICHOLSON