After a morning of horrible traffic, commuters were fleeing Port-of-Spain at midday. Andtaxi drivers on the Arima, Sangre Grande, Chaguanas and San Fernando taxi stands said they plan to do the same.
Eric Monarel said he left Sangre Grande at 6 am and turned back after an hour with very little progress.
"This is madness! The police disrupting the traffic and they not giving anybody any tickets or anything, they are just wicked," Monarel said.
"Worseyet, we were in traffic and police cars with their sirens were going through and forcing people out of the way so they could go through."
Another taxi driver said he would be leaving Port-of-Spain at 1 pm as he could not handle the frustration of sitting in traffic for hours.
"I used the shoulder whenever I could, and I still took three hours from Arima to Port-of-Spain," the driver said.
Steve Williams, a San?Fernando driver, said the situation was ridiculous and he planned to return to?San Fernando and not return until tomorrow.
Minister of Transport Stephen Cadiz said there was no "Plan?B" for commuters to avoid a potential traffic gridlock this afternoon, if the police continue their roadblock activities at 2 pm.
In a brief telephone interview, Cadiz said one the major arteries into the capital city was shut down, and there was very little which could be done.
"There were major problems at PTSC (Public Transport Service Commission) this morning as buses experienced lengthy delays.
"The buses use the same roads and experience the same problems,"?Cadiz said.
Cadiz said the issue was more of a national security issue and needed to be dealt with by that ministry.
While buses, maxi taxis and other vehicles spent four to five hours in traffic en route to the capital city, several people were forced to walk in order to get to school or work.
Others turned back, choosing to head home rather than wait for hours.
Maxi taxis were seen dropping off passengers a significant distance from the maxi taxi hub while they turned back.
On taxi stands in Chaguanas, Arima and San Fernando, taxi drivers refused to enter the traffic.
While Cadizsaid not much could be done, President of the Maxi Taxi Association Linus Phillip said maxi taxi drivers on the east-west corridor would be working as usual.
"We faced some issues this morning. I left Sangre Grande at 6 amand got to Port-of-Spain at around 9.30?am, but we will work as much as any action allows us to work."