Traffic Changes for Major Towns in St. Ann

The St. Ann Parish Council will be implementing a number of traffic changes in the major towns in the parish, to relieve congestion on the roads during the holiday season. Secretary/Manager of the Parish Council, Michael Morris, told JIS News that the towns to be affected are Ocho Rios, St. Ann’s Bay and Brown’s Town. Outlining the changes for Ocho Rios, he said that effective Thursday (Dec. 20, there will be no right turn for vehicles exiting Rexo Plaza and the car park in front of the Ocho Rios market. “Market Street will be one-way from Main Street towards the Ocho Rios Transportation Centre. There will be no right turn for vehicles traveling from Main Street to James Avenue in the vicinity of the clock tower,” Mr. Morris said. He noted further that on Christmas Eve, vehicles travelling on Newlin Street will be diverted left onto Dacosta Drive, to ensure the smooth flow of traffic in the town centre.
For St. Ann’s Bay, the changes, which take effect from 6:00 a.m. on December 20 until 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 26), will see vehicles being diverted from Bravo Street left onto Park Avenue and then onto Main Street in the vicinity of the Esso Service Station.
In addition, Bravo Street and Park Avenue will become one-way streets and directional signs will be erected to assist motorists as they proceed through the town.
“On Christmas Eve, by 5:00 p.m., Main Street will be blocked off to vehicular traffic from the intersection with Bravo Street up to the intersection of Main Street and Church Street. This is to ensure the safety of the high level of pedestrian traffic that is expected to be in the area on this day,” Mr. Morris told JIS News.
The arrangements for Brown’s Town will see vehicles entering the town from the north coast detouring at the ‘keep left sign’ at the Cool Oasis Gas Station and continuing in an easterly direction along Huntley Avenue.
“Motorists will be given the option of turning onto St. Hilda’s Drive where they can park on the right side of the street or go directly to the municipal car park,” Mr. Morris indicated.
He pointed out that motorists, who choose to continue onto Top Road, will be able to turn left if they are going to Alexandria or turn right on route to Brown’s Town, Standfast or Trelawny.
“There will be many signs posted strategically along the detour route to guide motorists and police personnel will be present to assist with the monitoring of traffic, giving information, as well as ensuring the safety of citizens,” Mr. Morris told JIS News. The changes in Brown’s Town will take effect from 6:00 a.m. on Friday (Dec. 21) and will last until 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday (Dec. 25).
“It is expected that with these changes, traffic will run smoothly throughout all the major towns and that our citizens will be able to truly enjoy their Christmas in an orderly environment,” Mr. Morris stated.