Police issue plan to ease Christmas Eve traffic congestion

The Guyana Police Force has outlined strategic routes for high-traffic areas today, as many motorists will be using the roadways for their Christmas Eve activities.
On Monday, it was announced that in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), vehicular traffic proceeding south from the Parika Stelling would proceed east into the Parika Old Road.

For Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), there will be no entry to east-bound traffic on Robb Street, between Alexander and Light Streets. At Bourda, there will also be no entry of vehicular traffic between Regent Street and North Road.
Meanwhile on Regent Street, Georgetown, no entry will be permitted to east-bound traffic between Avenue of the Republic and Albert Street between 15:00h and 23:00h.
In Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), vehicles proceeding east will be diverted north into Bennett Dam, Rosignol and Burnham Avenue will be closed to southbound traffic.
Over in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), there will be a road closure at Main Street, New Amsterdam between St Ann and John Streets. Vehicles proceeding east will be diverted north or south into Rose Hall Access Road and vehicles proceeding west will be diverted north or south into JC Chandisingh School Street.
Adding to that, Independence Road has been closed for vehicular traffic proceeding north. Vehicles proceeding south will be diverted west into Bank Road, Corriverton. Those proceeding north will be diverted into Number 79 Access Road.
This traffic control mechanism comes just a few days after residents of West Demerara requested better traffic management, owing to the build-up of vehicles for hours. The Christmas season has resulted in many traffic jams along the West Demerara Public Road, with lines extending hundreds of metres.
Last Thursday, several motorists and taxi operators had called for better traffic management, especially at the Harbour Bridge and Vreed-en-Hoop junction in the early hours of the day.
In the morning, one driver told Guyana Times, he would spend 35 minutes travelling from Goed Fortuin to the junction – a journey that in normal circumstances would take just over 10 minutes. This is owing to motorists boycotting the lines to use the sidewalk, coupled with an increase in holiday shoppers crowding the streets.
Police Commissioner Leslie James recently spoke about traffic and carnage on the roadways, stating that motorists must develop better attitudes. He said that road users need to change their attitude, for there to be a significant reduction in minor, serious and fatal accidents.