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Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 27, 2021 (SKNIS): As the Ministry of Public Works celebrates Public Works Week 2021, officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) were guests on the May 26, 2021 edition of “Working for You”. Chief Engineer at the Public Work Department, Mr. Livingston Pemberton, commented that the traffic light project came about out of necessity to improve traffic efficiency and congestion.
“We had what we call Traffic Flow Measurement Study that was done, and what we would have done is to have persons at these various intersections looking to see the number of vehicles that were travelling the different directions and we computed those numbers. Then a model was created to see how signalizing that junction would have made traffic more efficient…. It is a scientific process that was undertaken and out of that process the seven sections were chosen,” said Chief Engineer Mr. Pemberton.
A major factor not considered by members of the public when using public infrastructure is the cost that maintaining said infrastructure has on the state and taxes. Mr. Pemberton further urged members of the public to do their part in maintaining public infrastructure.
“The truth is we have to pay attention to maintenance cost. Maintenance cost is a significant cost in any project that we would undertake, so we have to take this into account in our over expenditure on projects. Unfortunately, many of us do not consider the cost of maintaining these infrastructural projects,” said Mr. Pemberton.
The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Post, Urban Development, and Transport undertook a Traffic Flow Measurement Study in Basseterre in 2016 to determine the need for traffic signals. This study was undertaken by ADeB Consultants of Jamaica. Based on the resulting analysis of this study it was determined that priority should be given to three junctions: Fort Street and Cayon Street; Wellington Road/Pond Road; and Cayon Street, Fort Street; and Bay Road.
Minister of Public Infrastructure, Post and Urban Development, Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Shawn Richards, in his official address to commemorate Public Works Week 2021, thanked the public works professionals who serve the Federation every day by ensuring that public facilities and infrastructure are well maintained and provide services that are vital to sustainable and resilient communities.
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