The National Roads Authority has announced that a new section of the East-West Arterial road – called the East–West Agricola – will open for public use on 4 Sept.
Drivers will now be able to use the new stretch of road between the Hirst Road-Rex Crighton Boulevard junction and Agricola Drive, off Shamrock Road.
The East-West Agricola is the first phase of the much larger project to extend the East–West Arterial eastwards. That phase was first opened to the public on a temporary basis during the Agriculture Show in March.
East-West Agricola naming process
The name ‘East-West Agricola’ has caused some confusion.
“This is just the name of phase one, which is the first stretch,” explained a spokesperson from the National Roads Authority.
“The overall project is the East-West Arterial and the Agricola is just where the works are currently. In terms of typical road construction, it is common to have different phases that open at separate times and have them named accordingly.”
The NRA representative explained that project names often differ from the official road names, which can be a source of confusion.
“The naming process is slightly confusing, as the NRA will have a project name – in this case, East-West Arterial – but that is not the actual name of the road,” said the NRA representative, speaking of Rex Crighton Boulevard.
“Once a project is completed, the road name is decided by a different department in the government. The new road [extending from Hirst Road to Agricola Drive] has not been named yet.”
Bigger picture
The long-planned and controversial multi-phase East–West Arterial highway expansion is designed to eventually run from Hirst Road to Frank Sound Road, creating a second corridor between the eastern districts and George Town.
Officials say that, once complete, it will help to ease daily traffic jams, reduce travel times, support future public transport lanes and provide safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists. It is also being billed as a resilient alternative corridor, designed to keep Grand Cayman connected when the coastal road is blocked by flooding, accidents or storm damage.
Active work zone
When the Agricola section opens, drivers will be able to bypass the Shamrock Road congestion, but the NRA warns the new road remains an active construction zone.
A temporary surface, heavy equipment and a newly installed mini-roundabout at Rex Crighton Boulevard mean drivers must slow down, observe the 25 miles per hour speed limit and remain alert.
“As this is a major project for the NRA, and will create significant improvement on traffic flow, the NRA wants to open completed sections as quickly as they are available,” the spokesperson said.
The NRA is asking motorists for patience as construction continues on the island’s most ambitious road project.
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