GOVERNMENT IS UNDERTAKING a re-examination of a major element of the controversial ABC Highway Improvement Project.

It is the Bridgetown Traffic Study, which included the traffic lights' control systems at major junctions installed for Cricket World Cup 2007.

Minister of Transport and Works John Boyce told the DAILY NATION on Saturday that his ministry was taking another look at the traffic study, in light of the fact that those control systems installed at traffic lights in The City nearly three years ago had proven unsatisfactory in easing congestion. He also noted that the system had been costly and thus its efficiency could not be maximised.

During a City walkabout over the weekend- in support of City MP Patrick Todd - examining the traffic challenges faced by inner City residents, Boyce said the number of installations had not been "significant enough".

He explained that the Bridgetown Traffic Study's traffic lights control system featured continuous feedback into a central control unit that ultimately decided on congestion in a particular area and made changes, including the timing of the lights to help move the traffic.

However, Boyce said this was a "very expensive, high-technology project" and in many cases his ministry had been unable to transfer the entire technology because of high costs.

He further expressed sympathy with City residents, noting that it was very difficult to regulate the flow of traffic through residential areas because of motorists seeking to escape the congestion along major City arteries.

"Because of the traffic congestion on our roads, people will also seek to find areas where they can shift the traffic, and unfortunately residential areas suffer," he said, noting efforts had been made to prevent this by building humps and putting no entry signs at some roads . . . . but it was difficult to alleviate the traffic situation."

The minister suggested that if a safer and more reliable public transport system could be provided, public transportation might become more attractive and thereby lessen the congestion on the island's streets, especially in The City. (DM)