A parts mix up has stalled the West Bay Road crosswalk for the past two months, but the project will be finished sooner than later, said Edward Howard, deputy managing director of the National Roads Authority.
The authority started work on the pedestrian crossing near the Strand shopping centre in Grand Cayman in late June, with the goal of it being operational in early July. However, progress stopped after the groundwork for the crossing was laid down.
“There was a mix up with the shipment of the electronics and hardware components for the signal by the Strand. We sent them back to the US and are waiting for the correct parts. I can’t give you an exact date, but the components should be here very soon,” Mr. Howard said.
The pedestrian crossing will be solar-powered and feature in-road LED lighting. The crosswalk will have pedestrian push buttons similar to the system on Elgin Avenue near the Government Administration Building and the Immigration Department.
A June news release from the authority listed other upcoming projects to improve pedestrian safety on West Bay Road, including the pending completion of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway, additional crosswalks on West Bay Road, and intersection improvements at Lawrence Boulevard.
The safety measures stem from a review by an advisory panel that convened after American tourist Jane O’Neill was critically injured by a car while crossing West Bay Road on foot by The Strand in April 2010. Ms O’Neill died in September 2010 after being in a coma for months.
In December 2010, accountant Michael Edgington died after being struck by a car while crossing West Bay Road on foot in the vicinity of Lawrence Boulevard.
The panel’s other proposals include reducing the speed limit on West Bay Road from 40 miles per hour to 30mph, providing flashing yellow lights to be activated by pedestrians and the improvement of overhead lighting.
The Strand crosswalk will have flashing lights, but will not be accompanied by speed humps or other traffic-calming measures.
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What a brilliant idea to put a crosswalk in a busy intersectiontaxis pulling over to collect people (while other cars overtake them), grocery carts being left out on the sidewalk, tourists trying to cross…wondering how many more accidents will happen now!
It would have made more sense to move it 100 feet away towards the Caribbean Club where it’s not as busy.
More lights more pedestrian crossings needed – the road is so poorly lit at night that I’m surprised more tourists haven’t been hurt. Every time I drive this road there are a handful of idiots who use the middle lane to overtake – this should bring an hefty fine and automatic loss of license.
In memory of those who died on West Bay road.