Traffic to be diverted for downtown project
(CNS): New diversions will go into effect in Central George Town mid-morning on Tuesday as the National Roads Authority (NRA) begins the next stage of Phase 2 of the George Town Revitalisation Initiative’s Central Business District Enhancement Project (CBEP), according to a release from the infrastructure ministry. This stage of the works is expected to take about six months and will see various changes to the traffic flow in the capital as more of the central business district is paved over and eventually closed off to traffic.
It includes upgrades to CUC’s underground infrastructure on Edward Street, Main Street, Fort Street and Shedden Road, and overground enhancements to Edward Street, Main Street and the George Town Post Office intersection. That work will be carried out by Robson Construction.
Officials said the work schedule was established in consultation with the project’s key stakeholders, including the RCIPS, the Cayman Islands Fire Service, the Health Services Authority, the Public Transport Unit and the Department of Public Safety Communications. It has been broken down into sub-phases to help “facilitate a smooth roll-out and the least disruption to local businesses, residents and the public at each stage”.
Dennis Harris, the Public Works Department’s project manager, said, “Each stage has been meticulously reviewed by the NRA’s team of engineers, who have studied the flow of traffic around town and trialled each diversion route. The Traffic Diversion Plan mimics the schedule of works and incorporates coning rather than fencing so that the teams can move through each work area swiftly and with little disruption.”
The first stage of the CBEP Phase 2 was completed last year. Once this phase is complete, it will connect CBEP Phase 1 (the pedestrianisation of Cardinall Avenue) and Phase 3, which is slated to include further underground and overground enhancements to Main Street.
“After weeks of operational planning and finalising orders for materials, we are excited to remobilise next week,” said George Town Manager and Revitalisation Initiative Coordinator Colin Lumsden. He added in the release that this project was “big in scale and big in impact for the revitalisation of our capital”.
The revamp of the capital was first announced in 2015, but many of the initial goals have yet to materialise. These included creating mixed-use developments, sorting out the 14,000 parking spaces dotted around Central George Town, planting more mature trees, and providing more amenities for tourists, such as public bathrooms.
Another goal was to update planning legislation, such as amending the minimum plot size requirements for development, but this has also not been achieved as the ministry has focused almost exclusively on building new roads or paving over old ones to create a concrete pedestrian area.
The first traffic diversions will come into effect on Tuesday, 23 January, at 11am, and drivers are asked to exercise caution when travelling along Edward Street, Main Street, Cardinall Avenue and Dr Roy’s Drive.
The full NRA Traffic Diversion Plan for this next part of the project is available here.
More information is posted on social media:
Facebook.com/GTRevitalisation and Instagram.com/gtrevitalisation
Facebook.com/nraroads) and Instagram.com/national_roads_authority.
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Category: development, Local News
ALT roundabout has become the new pinch point. How about creating three lanes here please!
What a waste of money just to give overpaid drafting staff something to do.
I think the police might want to be on hand for the next week or so in that area, encountered three cars this morning going the wrong way, tried to tell them but they weren’t interested, just waited for me to clear the road then drove head on into traffic.
Diversion plan link below if anyone is having trouble finding it.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61e0473a8a611a71ba26fc39/t/65a974d933c0337530a52cf1/1705604317073/PAHITD_GTR_NRA_CBEP_Phase_2_Traffic+Plan.pdf
by the time this silly 20 phase project is done everyone will have left for Camana bay and Cricket Square. To be honest I think that’s the government’s long term plan. Make GT useless for private businesses and they’ll all leave, then CIG can rent or buy the commercial buildings for cheaper instead of having to build more government buildings. Already started when Appleby left.
where did Appleby go?
Camana bay. And their old offices are now occupied by CIG
Who cares ?
Nobody now that Olive Garden is on the way!
WGAS..
hope we get more ‘solar powered’ benches…….
only in cayman….zzzzzzz
closing roads without any consideration for improving public transport or access options???….zzzzz
welcome to wonderland
Where is the diversion plan? I can’t find it.
Is this a joke?
Not for Robson construction!
I hope that they make sure to remove any remaining hideous trees. We need to make sure that most of GT is at least 130 F during the summer months with not a lick of shade.
Not a good idea planting some trees under overhead wires Shade trees such as Black Olive trees should be used not palms. Note in the last year Miami has replaced many of its palm trees.we also need more seating and wash rooms.
Absolute waste of our money !
Hopefully NRA and the good folk at the CBEP will do a little more public education on these changes as finding the diversion plan on their website isn’t immediately obvious. They should put it on the home page, so you don’t have to go hunting.
Two things I know for sure about this project. One is that when we reach phase 12 GT won’t be any better for the Caymanian People and number two the dude who is behind the project will be a millionaire and can retire at a young age and travel the world and won’t have to be stuck in GT in the mess he created ALL IN THE NAME OF REVITALIZING GT.
Nothing revitalizing about this mess it’s more like DESTROYING GT
Thats FUNNY. In 18 years here i don’t think NRA has completed anything on schedule
They seem to have completely stopped working on the roundabout near Fairbanks… it’s only half finished mind but f*** everyone else we have another project to move on to.
Still a light pole in the middle of the road they opened months ago.
More congestion. Less parking. Wonderful.
Another reason to avoid George Town.
Where it says phase 11, can we have a giant flashing sign that says “IF YOU’RE TURNING LEFT USE YOUR F***ING INDICATORS”.
The snarl ups caused by our highly skilled drivers that object to using the flashing things on the corners of their vehicles is immense. Of course, such great minds don’t see this knock-on effect, as they sit in traffic of their own causing.
Have you heard about Xanex? Check it out. Rounds the sharp edges of life, and I suspect you have more than a few.
You heard about basic cognizance and driver standards? you do you, I ride a bike past the jackasses anyhow.
Two years late and millions over budget. Heard it here first.
Say a prayer for those of us who have to use the Central Post Office.
how do we get access to it now? smh total BS.
Why does the pedestrian zone still have kerbs, they spent a fortune on it and can’t get simple things right.
Yes, and protected bike lanes throughout all of George Town would be a true blessing that would resonate through the ages.
The design was entrusted to a couple of civil servants who needed something to do…no talent or professional expertise evident here.
Wouldn’t it be great if the National Rodeo Association could finish one project before starting the next one?
I mean look how dangerous the roundabout at AGnas Way and LP.
People travelling east from Bobby Thompson have no idea what lane they are expected to be in when they hit the Agnes Way circle.
Easily fixed but no lets start another project of to disrupt traffic. Right in the peak of tourist season.
Come on Eddie, show some common sense. You used to have it.
Oh no a private sector company is involved. This means inflated costs and the project will be delayed at least six months.
Robson is a good Caymanian name, as is Lumsden. This whole project will kill George Town. Maybe, cruise ship passengers might benefit.
Robson Construction is owned by Bodden’s.
Thumb away losers!
https://www.robson.construction/about-us
Who is this being developed for? I sometimes walk out in town and am the only person traversing the paved stretch even with ships in. Too hot for everyone.
What a total waste of money and we end up losing key roads, making congestion worse and even less parking where parking is already at a serious premium
Its not really a “Town center to be honest. A few piddly little dollar stores and jewelry stores. Not much more. Shame as the town should be the main attraction of cayman. High rents chase everyone away. It could be-so great but everyones too busy lining their pockets with rent.
Fugly street ghost town for millions
Meanwhile, many of us are running our own George Town Avoidance Project and it’s all going according to schedule. Might make it permanent!
Six months, eh? Have they ordered the materials they need yet?
Remember the airport connector/JBH was delayed because the road was almost completed before they remembered to order the culverts! Hmmm…
Bury all the power lines
Beginning this without creating free public parking lots first.
Brilliant!
we are excited !!!!!
LOL
No we are not
we are confused.
Is this just for tourists? If not what about parking for all the extra people this will attract.
Said literally no one, ever.
Judging for the thumbs you might be able the only one.
I feel this better be followed up by a new dock situation or this becomes a stupid move.
my point would be. the change is really about tourism and if more and more ships bypass Cayman because of our dock situation why are we making an issue of traffic in GT even worse???
Did I miss a memo??
You like, day and nightmares. This will not improve GT.