As we showed you at the top of this newscast, the Western Highway was only opened to limited traffic for critical high traffic hours this morning. That meant many drivers and commuters were left stranded, with no alternative option or available detour because the boom road is also flooded. That cut government workers off from their jobs, students from school. So most just had to wait it out – and the blockage lasted for hours as the Ministry of Works had to do a hurry-up patch-job on the highway. Traffic was backed up for miles and a few frustrated drivers took the time to share their experience with 7NEWS.
Driver #1,
“One hour, I was in the first that came up this morning, we were on that side facing this way because we had an appointment at Registry. We went to Registry and we came back and we have been here for an hour now.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
What has it been like, did you expect the floodwaters to affect your travel?
Driver #1,
“No not really because all the way from Dangriga up to over here it was dry except for when we got over here the line was way back there but we made it through this morning and now we are in this one. So I am waiting patiently. I don’t have anything else to do.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
How long have you guys been stranded and what has it been like?
Driver #2,
“Just for two hours but we know how it is so we are just taking it easy. As soon as the traffic moves, we will move too.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Any idea when that will be?
Driver #2,
“No idea.”
Gilbert Pitts, Traffic Coordinator
“At this time of day definitely I want to take the opportunity to tell drivers to be careful and be mindful of the other drivers because the road condition is not good at this time and anybody we can prevent from getting hurt we can definitely appreciate that at this time.”
Driver #3,
“Well I think there are lessons learnt, I don’t think these highways are built for floods, there are not enough drainage and I think we just have to learn new ways to arrest this kind of problem. It is natural, these floods will continue to come year after year and maybe worse because of developments. Watersheds are being cleared, climate change and all of these things, so we have to prepare.”
By two this afternoon the Western Highway was fully reopened. Still, it is vulnerable and motorists are advised to exercise caution as they drive through flooded areas.
