More frequent but shorter bridge
openings offered as traffic solution
SIMPSON BAY--More frequent but shorter bridge opening times during the day and extended night openings have been suggested to Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation (SLAC) and the Executive Council by St. Maarten Marine Trade Association (SMMTA), to take effect immediately to alleviate the snail’s-pace and bumper-to-bumper traffic in Simpson Bay/Cole Bay.
The bridge should open as often as necessary for a maximum of 10-12 minutes at a time, with a minimum of 30 minutes between openings, it was suggested.
Night-time (after 7:00pm) bridge openings, when the wind usually has died down and visibility of the bridge opening is even better for yacht captains than in the daytime, should be instated immediately, according to a statement from SMMTA.
“Yacht captains have overwhelmingly expressed their preference for night bridge passages over those done by day. All this and more has been brought to the attention of SLAC, but to date no efforts have been made by this organisation to even attempt a trial period of the proposals.”
SMMTA said further that the Executive Council was “frustrated and inexplicably seems not to be able to convince the management of SLAC to adapt a new, more positive approach in helping to relieve the vehicular traffic jams” on Welfare Road and Airport Boulevard.
The association believes “the present management of SLAC is irresponsible and seemingly incapable of properly operating the [Simpson Bay] bridge.”
SMMTA’s statement on the traffic situation and disclosure of its suggestions were prompted by an editorial printed in The Daily Herald recently that was critical of the yachting industry for not stepping in with solutions.
SMMTA is an association of 128 businesses that employ directly well over 1,500 legal residents of St. Maarten/St. Martin. Like any other business in St. Maarten/St. Martin, SMMTA member establishments rely heavily on the island’s road network and their staffs’ ability to travel to and from work and to perform their duties, including making deliveries, picking up and dropping off persons and goods, providing services to the general public, etc., etc.
