Politicians discussed the urgent need for improvements at Selkirk Drive near Grand Harbour just a few weeks before the two-vehicle crash on Tuesday, 25 Nov., which saw one car overturned and led to widespread traffic delays in the area.
Roy Tatum, MP for Red Bay, tabled a question in Parliament on 16 Oct. asking Minister for Infrastructure Jay Ebanks, “What steps can be taken, as a matter of urgency, to slow traffic on Shamrock Road near Selkirk Drive, so that vehicles can exit safely from Selkirk Drive and pedestrians can cross without risk?”
In response, Ebanks said that traffic management on Shamrock Drive, including by Selkirk Drive was a “top priority”, and said, “I can confirm that the NRA [National Roads Authority] has immediate plans to improve the safety for motorists entering and exiting Selkirk Drive. This will include the construction of both a deceleration lane and acceleration lane at the intersection along with the new improved signage to better alert drivers.”
Road improvements
When pressed by Tatum on when those works might be carried out, Ebanks said he had recently seen the new designs for the Grand Harbour area and the connection with Selkirk Drive which just needed Cabinet approval.
Once work on the King’s Sports Centre roundabout is finished, he said, Edgewater Way, which runs behind the gym, will then continue to Grand Harbour and onto Selkirk Drive.
“A lot of the traffic that is actually from Selkirk Drive going down will be able to take that particular road without getting into the six-lane highway itself,” he said, “and then as we get into the new year, we will see the changes start to happen to Grand Harbour and going towards the eastern side.”
Cars collided
On 25 Nov., at around 2:20pm, a Honda Fit and a Honda Accord crashed into each other on Shamrock Road by Selkirk Drive. The Fit had just left Selkirk Drive when it collided with the Accord, which had been travelling along Shamrock Road, police said.
One of the vehicles overturned as a result of the collision, but none of the occupants of either vehicle sustained serious injuries. All attended the Anthony S. Eden Hospital and were subsequently discharged and no arrests were made.
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Members of my family live on Selkirk Dr while others live off Shamrock Road. Therefore we travel on this stretch of road frequently.
I would like to see the speed limit reduced to 30mph on the stretch from Grand Harbour roundabout to at least the next roundabout travelling east. I understand that many drivers ignore speed limits BUT if there was more police presence this MIGHT be a bit of a deterrent.
I do hope the introduction of speed cameras will actually happen as suggested in an article quoting The Commissioner of Police.
In my opinion the standard of driving is dire no matter what make or age of car is being driven. It would seem “driving with due care and attention” isn’t within the intellectual scope of many drivers. Most don’t seem to realise their vehicle has indicators to let other drivers know their intent!!!! As for the mantra of “mirror, signal, mirror, maneuver”-well that either was never taught when learning to drive OR hasn’t been retained!
It is remiss of me not to give thanks that no one was seriously injured in this latest accident.