Residents give thumbs down to roundabout change

| 19/05/2023 | 92 Comments
Sir Alden McLaughlin hosts a public meeting Thursday night, Cayman News Service
Sir Alden McLaughlin hosts a public meeting Thursday night

(CNS): Sir Alden McLaughlin MP has asked the National Roads Authority Board to rethink its decision to restrict drivers exiting the Grand Harbour commercial complex to a left turn only. At a packed public meeting at the Seafarers Hall in Red Bay Thursday night, residents gave the change an overwhelming thumbs down. Officials claimed it would add around eight minutes to journeys, but the audience was unconvinced.

Eric Bush, the chief officer in the planning ministry, which has responsibility for roads, blamed the board for the decision, though none of its appointed members were present at the meeting hosted by the opposition Progressive Party.

Bush noted that Planning Minister Jay Ebanks and officials from the ministry and the NRA were there to explain the decision and hear people’s concerns about the plan, which is due to take effect on 5 June.

NRA Director Edward Howard, who has a seat on the board, said the decision was about safety as well as trying to manage traffic congestion at a junction where some 20,000 vehicles pass each day. He said that a number of drivers had approached the NRA about the dangers of turning right from the Grand Harbour exit.

Preventing drivers from turning right as they enter the roundabout at that point was seen as the easiest and most cost-effective way of dealing with the danger and added only a few minutes to their journey, he said.

But Howard’s presentation was not well received by the rowdy crowd, and most people were vehemently opposed to the proposal, which they said would make things far worse and could create even more dangers. They also said that it would add much longer than eight minutes to their journey and would simply increase congestion at the Red Bay roundabout.

Howard agreed to present some alternative solutions to the board and possibly delay the proposed start date, given the evident opposition to the plan.

Minister Ebanks said that the decision might be premature because the NRA has yet to complete another key roadway behind Grand Harbour, known as Edgewater Way, which should be where it is concentrating its resources.

Howard told CNS after the meeting that there were a number of “unresolved issues with land acquisition and utilities coordination” along that route. “We are, however, optimistic that these issues will get resolved soon and work can proceed on the roads in earnest,” he said.

The minister told people at the meeting that the proposal was not set in stone. “We will be looking into all of the concerns, and I will be sitting down with the acting NRA board chairman to discuss the decision,” he said.

Noting that there would be another meeting about this proposal before the end of the month, the minister echoed the NRA director, saying that the change was about safety and the need to find ways to reduce the number of accidents on the road. He said there had already been 1,100 collisions across Grand Cayman in the first four months of the year, putting 2023 on track to be just as bad or worse than 2022, when there were 2,915 crashes.

During the course of the meeting, the audience also heard that the National Roads Authority had completed a traffic study of the Grand Harbour area, which has not yet been released. It remains unclear why this study is not in the public domain and CNS has submitted a request for the report.

As Sir Alden wrapped up the meeting, he challenged the “arbitrary proposal”, made “without regard to the consequences”. He said the decision, which had his “head spinning”, would affect many people who live in the area and would create complete gridlock in his constituency and more stress.

“I want to know what is the imperative to go ahead with this now,” he said. Acknowledging the need to slow traffic down, he said there were other options, and as it was clear no one supported the proposal, hopefully the decision could be reversed.

See the meeting on the Progressives’ Facebook page here.


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Category: development, Local News, Politics

Comments (92)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    There are accidents aaaallll the time at the Camana Bay roundabout where cars also have to cross three lanes of traffic. I don’t see the NRA forcing cars to only turn left when leaving Camana Bay and turning around by the roundabout by Cayman International School if they want to go to West Bay Road or to head north.

    I haven’t seen a single accident at the Grand Harbour roundabout that involved a car entering the roundabout from Grand Harbour. Silly drivers pushing out and holding up traffic occasionally during the evening rush hour? Sure. But accidents as a result of crossing three lanes into the roundabout to go to South Sound/Crewe Road? Never.

    This isn’t about safety. It’s about easing traffic flow for the people living in the eastern districts. Just be honest.

    Weekday mornings, those people coming from the east will be a few cars further ahead in the traffic jam that is inching into town. Weekday evenings there could be a bit more impact in alleviating traffic by stopping the stupid/frustrated drivers from pushing out and blocking the flow, but those heading east still just hit another bit of traffic further down.

    Why doesn’t the NRA just put up a big sign requiring a left turn only when exiting Grand Harbour onto the roundabout from 4pm to 6pm on weekdays? You can’t fully enforce the rule with bollards if it’s only at certain times of day. But there’s precedent for these signs. And we should trust people to do the right thing. As it transitions, they can station a police officer there to ensure people follow the new rule if a lot of people are flouting the sign (and ticket those who are bold enough to do this with a police officer watching).

    Forcing people to only turn left when exiting Grand Harbour at all times is completely disproportionate in relation to the goal of easing traffic. At very limited times during the week it will have a tiny positive impact on traffic for those individuals who live out east or are coming from/heading there during rush hour. And it will, at all times, have a massive detrimental impact on people living in or visiting Grand Harbour as well as all of the commercial establishments that are located in that area. It’s a bad policy.

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  2. Anonymous says:

    The thing is, how does this even make a difference in theory? You have traffic from the north (grand harbour etc) trying to cross traffic from the east. TFTN can either do so at Hurleys or can do so further east, but it’s the same traffic with the same problem, just further east!

    All you’ve achieved is a new traffic jam headed east for a half mile before they have to cross. You haven’t solved the fundamental problem that TFTE has to stop to let TFTN in.

    A better solution would be a traffic light at the hurleys roundabout that allows them to merge more efficiently and shares the priority more efficiently (at peak times) between TFTN and TFTE.

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    • Anonymous says:

      There is a large number of people whose comments, seem to be against the idea of changing the layout to restrict drivers to a left turn only, when exiting the Grand Harbour complex.
      • It do not matter that this change will make this dangerous junction at least 50% safer.
      • It will allow more continuous traffic flow of car going west.
      • It will add some time to the commute for those who use the Grand Harbour complex.
      • However, the Prospect Roundabout can cope with more traffic making the turn west. It is already designed for maximum safety and higher volumes of traffic.
      Simply put, people do not like change, they resist change no matter how safe, or how much improvement it will bring to their daily lives.
      This is not a new thing, Change is simply not welcome in our daily lives.
      That is the absolute worst part of life for most people. We can not make a change or accept or even cope with any changes in our lives when there is a change in our lives are made for us.
      As matter of fact, some people would rather live like a rat in the cellar of a house, rather than living like a king in the same house, if the opportunity comes along.
      But when people make changes to their lives it is usually for the better. A wholesome change will put us in a better position.
      The vehicle numbers will continue to increase, for a few more months, but there will be no more 1000’s of 10- and 15-year-old cars coming to Cayman.

      Thank God we are not a like.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    It’s a round about! If you know how to drive and you don’t have those rediculous bollards in the middle of the roundabout, which stupid drivers consider a junction, you can safely go all the way “around” and exit right. Drivers, get on the web and read how to properly negotiate roundabouts! NRA: get some educational information out that too.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    We need over passes not roundabouts.

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  5. John says:

    Again and again. The only solution is an overpass at the Hurleys roundabout.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The roundabout is not the issue, the placement of the roundabout is the issue. Move it east and all will be solved.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    I think its about time to get a new NRA Board and Director! whilst they are doing that what about updating the roads law!

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  7. Nautical-one345 says:

    This road artery needs an overpass from Linford Pierson Highway up to east of the Tomlinson roundabout onto the East West Arterial. That way all vehicles going east of the Tomlinson roundabout will be encouraged to overpass this area and greatly ease up the amount of traffic that currently needs to navigate EVERY roundabout in a heavily congested residential and growing commercial area.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    First time I’ve finally seen a statistic. So it says 20,000 cars through the roundabout per day. Next piece of data – how many come from Red Bay direction through the roundabout in the morning? Can we estimate how many are:
    1) headed to schools
    2) headed to Govt Admin Building
    3) headed to Cricket Square
    4) headed to Camana Bay

    Let’s get some Express larger buses from a Park and Ride in Bodden Town to those destinations.

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  9. KT says:

    Here is what I want to know.

    How does accidents at Grand Harbor roundabout compare to other roundabouts? Also, were those accidents directly attributable to cars exiting Hurleys?

    Personally, I cannot recall the last accident there where its due to a car exiting Hurleys. Saw some idiots racing from GT go up into the roundabout but not much else.

    TO ME, It’s a solution in search of a problem OR put anotherway. It’s doing something to say they did something.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    The problems with traffic out east and including from smith road all the way to BT are nothing to do with NRA…they are everything to do with:
    Corruption
    Poor education
    CPA
    All related planning and development boards
    All politicians since 1990

    Please wake up. You think it’s bad now? The same corruption and poor education and short term Ian is happening today…in 20 years it’s going to be a total nightmare

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    • Anonymous says:

      I beg to differ, it has a lot to do with NRA. NRA has to provide comments on every development coming before the CPA and I would suggest that about 95% of the time their comments are that the impact on traffic is MINIMAL! Go back and review the CPA Agendas/Minutes…

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  11. Mary Smith says:

    While they are at it, please do something about the “new” roundabout at the ETH/new Fosters. What idiot mounded the land inside the ring with heavy vegetation so that you can’t see if there are cars coming south or north? Pedestrians have to guess if there’s someone barreling through and drivers can’t see cars coming either.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    So now all of us at the red bay roundabout have to shift to the round about down the end of the road because we won’t be able to enter ours anymore in the AM. Fix the connector road for grand harbor now!

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  13. Anonymous says:

    I have never seen more incompetence than that NRA Director Howard! He was totally unprepared! Shows why our roadways are total confusion. Not to mention this board decision out if no where. We need to know who is pushing this and why!

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  14. Anonymous says:

    This is so stupid. All the NRA has to do is eliminate the pointless Red Bay roundabout and put one at the end of Selkirk. Problem solved.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    The very simple fact that Catron is the only person who supports this tells you all you need to know.

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    • Connect GH to Tropical Gardens. says:

      cars existing Grand Harbour stop in the centre lane which is very dangerous and not permited in the Road code. when,someone gets T boned and dies you will all see what the NRA was trying to prevent. Connect the back of GH to tropical Gradens and let them exist through Tropical Gardens.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Feed a whole bunch of traffic unnecessarily through a residential neighborhood; or, finish the Edgewater connector.

        You are a special kind of stupid.

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      • Anonymous says:

        As to connecting through Tropical Gardens, if we offering such ridiculous ideas, why not connect the back of GH to the airport runway and let them exit there?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Nonce.

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  16. Elvis says:

    The roundabout is fine, stupid ignorant driving is the problem and e everyone knows it

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  17. Anonymous says:

    Alden knows why they were told to do it and by whom, he just can’t say.

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  18. Anonymous says:

    Why did they build a roundabout in the middle of the road in the first place?

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  19. Anonymous says:

    another private sector board!!!

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  20. Anonymous says:

    The unsafety of that roundabout has existed since its creation, same for a few others. Users have noted this particular danger for years but NRA is just now acknowledging it! So now, the very same NRA which designed the faulty roundabout in the first place are now so caught up in “safety concerns” that they implement an even more stupid “solution”?! Morons masquerading as Engineers at NRA??

    Only in Cayman – Do the same things, by the same morons, in the same manner, time after time but expect different results!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      I did not see any changes at the most dangerous roundabout at ALT! Why this one? Who’s pushing it?

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      • Anonymous says:

        The problem at ALT roundabout is people entering the roundabout when they KNOW they don’t have the right of way; mainly those coming from Godfrey Nixon or industrial park.

  21. Anonymous says:

    You know why they give it a thumbs down? Because it’s a friggin stupid idea.

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    • Anonymous says:

      don’t see no sense in it because the bottle neck will now be at the round about where you exit from red bay ps.

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  22. SKEPTICAL says:

    Has it occurred to anyone that the proposed change means traffic exiting Grand Harbour bound for George Town will have to travel East to the first roundabout, to turn back – at which point as it comes to exit that roundabout, it will have PRIORITY over the traffic heading in to GT from the East. All this additional traffic at the “ return roundabout “ will materially hold up the GT bound flow.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, I think that is why everyone is upset about it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Not really, the Red Bay roundabout already has the center lane somewhat separated so traffic coming from East will continue normally in the outer two lanes. There might be some added congestion as they merge but as it is a merge it should be ok. Plus these cars would be holding up the flow at the Hurley’s roundabout so it isn’t additional hold up it is just moving it to another roundabout.

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  23. Lady Slick says:

    Big up my guy Sir Alden not mix up in corruption and laundering illicit funds through political donors business though like some people we know !

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  24. Anonymous says:

    Perennial waste of public funds, that roundabout! Check how many times since construction it’s been re-configured, yet never any accountability!

    My 7 year old grandchild says just do junctions with traffic lights!

    Go ahead, with big surplus projected, throw more public funds at it. In Cayman’s it’s third or more time correct, if at all!

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    • Anonymous says:

      cars will just sit and block the intersection even if lights are red.

      They already do it at numerous traffic lights, the Fort Street lights are a great example.

      It is illegal to block traffic light intersections, just like it is illegal to stop on a roundabout clocking the entrances.

      If the police bothered to ticket these offenders they might realise it is illegal or just too expensive to take the fines.

      All you need are a couple of coppers ticketing everyone at rush hour.

      top tip for police, just move along the traffic jam fining anyone on their phone, usually texting.

      I see over 50% of drivers texting when in traffic, it would be shooting fish in barrel. Unfortunately for the public, rush hour coincides with Happy Hour, so the police are usually already there.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The RCIPS only care about issuing speeding tickets. In their opinion, speed is the reason for all our traffic problems.

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    • Anonymous says:

      No don’t do junctions with lights. Just teach people to drive properly and get those who can’t off the road. When used correctly, roundabouts smooth the flow of traffic – unlike junctions with lights which cause cars to stop unnecessarily.

      Roundabouts are simple to use if people are in the correct lane, give way as appropriate and use indicators. There are far larger and far busier roundabouts all across the UK with far fewer accidents pro rata….

  25. GBod says:

    The NRA really embarrassed themselves last night. I can’t believe how clueless about their own position they actually were. How are these people making decisions for us?

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  26. L Ebanks says:

    Very very poor decision from the NRA. Doesn’t solve any problems. Scrap this stupid plan and think again NRA

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  27. Anonymous says:

    Who are the elected idiots on the Board who made the decision?
    Why did none of them go to the meeting?
    Can they direct the NRA staff on operational matters?
    The Edgewater connector was gazetted nearly 2 years ago why is it not built? Everyone knows NRA can build immediately upon gazettal and then settles the compensation later. So is there a well connected landowner holding up construction??
    The timing stinks.

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  28. Anon says:

    Oh Alden, trying to stay relevant.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Whoever decided to put round a bouts in was the dumbest thing this island could have done. Not only does traffic slow down, there have been more accidents since they have been put in…A light red stop, green go…very simple

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      • Anonymous says:

        It’s not the roundabouts that are the problem- if used correctly they help with traffic flow. Unfortunately, it’s the drivers who are the problem. It’s obvious that many drivers have absolutely no idea how to use them.

        More driver education is desperately needed!

    • PPM Dawn is Rising says:

      And jay trying to sound important! 5:04 pm

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    • Anonymous says:

      as long as he can stir up trouble he is happy. where is his puppet Roy at?

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  29. Anonymous says:

    Old Sir Alden and his cronies always trying to stir up trouble. The area is a mess and very unsafe; this is one step in the right direction and they NRA needs to do more. Just move on with it and let Sir Alden and Eric Bush just sit around and complain. Such drama queens.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Sorry. I disagree. It needs a complete plan and not just one step in a direction only you think is right. Its doing more harm than good in the spirit of safety by not being transparent enough.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Wasn’t Alden’s idea of a ‘complete plan’ the extra lane on LPH which now causes even more traffic to pile up at Kings and Hurleys (like ee told him at the time). And another third lane by Hurleys which also never happened?

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  30. Anonymous says:

    overpass sadly its needed in cayman now..

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  31. Anonymous says:

    I live in this area and think the NRA has made a very sensible decision to make the roundabout a left turn only . Safety Safety Safety don’t understand arguments.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I agree. Residents of Red Bay and Grand Harbour should not be driving through Hurleys car park in the morning & then onto the roundabout to go towards GT. You should turn left out of your roads & go the way NRA say you should

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      • Anonymous says:

        That should be stopped. All those people cutting through Hurley’s car park then trying to exit at the roundabout is just dangerous and wrong!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Me too. I wish they’d block the entrance there too. Causes mayhem with traffic coming from East/SS stopping traffic going home on the evening commute. I hate that spot.

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  32. Anonymous says:

    “I want to know is the imperative to go ahead with this now”, said Sir Alden.

    Quite interesting, since Sir Alden, when he was Premier, acted akin to a forceful dictator and rushed through everything that he could (with the assistance of PPM-led Unity Government MPs).

    Remember the Cruise Port deal, which could not wait.

    Remember the failed attempt at appointing CILPA as AML Supervisory Authority and CILPA’s unlawful delegation to CARA of same ultra vires public functions.

    Remember the dump deal (now ReGen) signed at the eleventh hour before the last election.

    Remember the duty waivers to foreign developers (but not to Caymanian developers and hospitals).

    Remember proroguing Parliament early to call an early election, which was favorable to incumbents (but caught others running for Parliament off guard).

    The list goes on and on.

    Nothing wrong with waiting to identify what makes best sense, as Sir Alden has alluded to, however, me thinks Sir Alden is sounding kind of hypocritical as an Opposition MP (than he was as Premier for two terms).

    Unfortunately, not new territory for Sir Alden and the PPM.

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  33. Anonymous says:

    Classic …to throw a person under the bus when that person is not present.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Ask yourself why none of the NRA board (who supposedly made this ignorant decision) were present.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Good point.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Why? Are you not able to articulate a good point yourself?
          Here is one that you can use. This will improve safety. Thanks NRA for letting us know about it’s implementation weeks in advance!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Did you even think to first ask yourself, if the board were invited by Sir Alden e’tal? (Hint, Mr. Eric Bush told everyone who Sir Alden called) But hey, maybe, you are ok slandering the good name of people who care about the safely of others, and maybe you don’t mind showing everyone just how ignorant of the facts you are!

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  34. Anonymous says:

    They need to consider scrapping that entire roundabout and put in a traffic light at that junction.

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    • Anonymous says:

      So instead of a slow flow you want a dead stop ?

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      • Daniel says:

        Wake up people this is the right decision to block traffic from turning right, it slows the traffic flow coming from the East. All the wealthy people who live in the Grand Harbour area must be understanding like the rest of us poor people and not be spoiled rotten in having their way. In the rest of the world eg. the US you have no choice but to follow and adapt to the Dept of transport laws of the road. We in this little Country have always been reactive instead of proactive. We will all agree with NRA when someone gets killed there or seriously injured God forbid. If it was a bunch of nobodies like. Poor black Caymanians living inside their Alden and Roy would be marching with the NRA. This additional 2 to 5 minutes is not going to kill anyone but in not doing this crossing 3 lanes may. The NRA needs to do what they know is right and what other countries in the real world do. People coming from the East have to get up with their poor kids 4am in the morning to drive just 15 miles with their kids while the wealthy in Grand harbour can have their beauty rest and people can cut through Harley’s to try and beat the system. NRA is there for an important job and not to please everyone. SAFETY FIRST.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Lol. Wait and see how this “helps” the traffic from the east when all the traffic being forced east has the right of way at the Red Bay roundabout, fool.

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        • Anonymous says:

          people will just block the traffic light intersection like they already do illegally on roundabouts currently

          It won’t matter if they are red or green, and I can’t remember the last time a driver was fined for blocking an intersection in Cayman.

  35. Anonymous says:

    Earlier this week I was heading east past Kings at about 5:30 pm when I hit an unusually long traffic queue at the Grand Harbour roundabout. A taxi had exited the Hurley’s car park and was at a complete stop, right in the middle of the roundabout, waiting for a space to get into the lane to either exit at South Sound or turn right towards town. This blocked all of the traffic heading east, as he was there for quite a while.

    Drivers like him are less likely to impact the traffic in the morning because there are far less drivers heading east.

    Could a solution not be to restrict the times during which this turn can be made, to outside of the evening rush hour? I know that the argument will be that some cars will go anyway, but it would at least reduce the number of those who block the entire roundabout.

    I understand the residents’ frustrations with regards to the morning drive being extended, but it’s really the evening rush hour that is impacted by drivers entering the roundabout.

    I think a compromise should be a possible option on the table.

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    • Anonymous says:

      nothing will stop taxis thinking they own the road

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    • Anonymous says:

      No, morning traffic impeded too. Residents of Grand Harbour & Red Bay not going left out of their roads, but through Hurleys & onto roundabout. Holding up traffic coming in from the East.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You do understand that they will go east to the very next roundabout, enter it in both lanes, and have immediate priority over the west-bound traffic there? This solves effectively none of the traffic issues, it just shifts it one roundabout east.
        As to safety, I don’t recall any accidents as yet pertaining to those exiting Hurley’s to go west, yet I’ve seen plenty of east-bound cars that decided to skip the turn in the middle of the night and crash straight into the middle of the roundabout. Not sure what the urgency is about in the name of “safety” here.

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    • Anonymous says:

      This seems to be a very logical solution! I assumed it was restricted to certain hours. I didn’t know it was 24 hours per day!!

  36. Anonymous says:

    “I’m going to retire and grow tomatoes” was the initial exit promise.

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