Gov’t urged to consult local engineers to solve traffic woes
PETAL James, head of mortgage sales at JN Bank, has called for greater consultations with local engineers to identify and implement solutions to the traffic challenges currently affecting sections of the Corporate Area and St Catherine.
“Our engineers have a major role to the play in the ongoing road works across the Corporate Area, which has resulted in major traffic jams throughout Kingston and St Andrew and St Catherine. The traffic congestion has undoubtedly affected travel time for thousands of commuters and impacted productivity in many sectors,” she said. James was speaking at one of the functions to mark Engineers’ Week at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston, yesterday. She said more discussions with the country’s engineers are necessary to provide workable solutions, to achieve improved traffic management, during the implementation of major road works. Major road rehabilitation works on the Mandela Highway, Three Miles and Constant Spring Road have contributed to peak hour traffic delays in the Corporate Area. The JN Bank senior manager said the skills and expertise of the Jamaican engineering community continue to be relevant, as the country maintains its path to developed nation status. She added that the country’s cadre of locally trained engineers remains an important “engine of growth”, which can help to guide Jamaica towards further development. “Our local engineers have made significant contributions to the quality of life currently being enjoyed by Jamaicans, based on their design of essential infrastructure over the years, she said. James noted that “we need not look far” to see how engineers have helped to change life for the better in Jamaica, pointing to key developments such as: the electricity power grid, water supply system, wastewater treatment facilities and development of the National Building Code. She said, too, that local engineers continue to play a key role in nation-building. “Therefore, your expertise must be continually sought, and efficiently adopted in all sectors of government, as we plan for the future,” she told engineers attending the function. Engineers’ Week is being held in collaboration with the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, with JN Bank as one of the local sponsors. The four-day event includes discussions on a wide range of topics, such as: energy, manufacturing, climate change, agriculture, procurement and contract management.