High
marks for new transportation initiatives
Trinidad Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
01 21 07
Government finally has signalled the green light
for two major transportation projects which are
sure to draw a sigh of relief from thousands of
commuters and many businessmen.
Last
week, Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert proudly
announced that Cabinet had given its stamp of approval
for the construction of the multi-million-dollar
interchange at the Uriah Butler Highway and the
Churchill-Roosevelt Highway. The minister also said
that everything was in place to launch the water
taxi ferry service from San Fernando to Port of
Spain by July 10, 2007.
Construction
of the interchange is expected to cost approximately
$321 million. According to the minister, work on
this project should be in full swing by end of February
of the beginning of March and should be completed
in about 18 months. The 650-metre-long elevated
structure over the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway and
the Uriah Butler Highway is part of an overall $1
billion project to make the Churchill-Roosevelt
Highway a complete freeway from the intersection
in the vicinity of Grand Bazaar to Barataria.
Once
completed, it is expected to vastly ease the daily
traffic pile-up in the area, allowing commuters
and commercial transport vehicles to move much faster
to their respective destinations.
On
the other hand, the $66 million water taxi ferry
service between San Fernando and Port of Spain will
involve some four high-speed catamaran vessels with
capacities ranging from 300 to 400 passengers (with
the journey expected to take about 40 minutes).
The service was designed to move some 9,000 persons
per day, thereby significantly reducing congestion
on the country's main north/south arterial route.
It also offers commuters a comfortable alternative
form of transport.
When
these two projects go on stream, the transportation
of persons and goods between north and south will
be greatly improved and as a result represent significant
savings is cash, gasoline and time.
The
Government stands to receive high marks for these
initiatives aimed at reducing the horrible traffic
gridlock in strategic areas of the country. This
will put us well on the road to an even more speedy
development of the country.
Trinidad
Express
Wednesday,
January 10th 2007
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