A major traffic and road network project is expected to be rolled out from November in San Fernando on a phased basis as part of the Waterfront Development.
Speaking at the first of two mandatory consultations for the issuance of a Certificate of Environment Clearance (CEC), at City Hall, San Fernando on Tuesday, Attorney General and San Fernando West MP Faris Al-Rawi boasted, “This is in short, big news for San Fernando.”
With funding already approved, he said the road network project which is 100 per cent local as it was designed by PURE under the Ministry of Works and Transport.
He said the Waterfront Development has been divided into several anchor projects including the fishing port, Plaza San Carlos, two housing sites to accommodate about 800 homes on 14 acres at the PTSC bus yard and five acres at the Ministry of Works site, and the hospital car park.
In addition, he said there would also be broader anchors including the Anglican church development, the redevelopment of the magistrate’s courts and the development of Skinner Park which has already begun.
Al-Rawi added, “To cause this development the road network needs to take care of the volume of users which are about to come in.”
Al-Rawi said the road works will include the sea wall restoration, widening of the road, the introduction of roundabout facilities and the reorganisation of traffic network into two and four-lane arrangements.
He said it also involves connecting roads such as Rushworth Street, Ruth Avenue and Todd Street to ensure easy access from the Bypass and Highway to the Waterfront.
According to Al-Rawi the second mandatory consultation is expected to be held next week and the submissions will be passed on to the Environmental Management Authority for the CEC, followed by the award of the contract.
He assured that the Girl Guides, the Presbyterian Synod, Naparima College and other institutions will not be relocated, as Al-Rawi said there was no need for land acquisition.
In fact, he expects the land value of those properties to skyrocket because of all the development.
Only on Tuesday Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley put contractors on alert about upcoming jobs, as he said government was moving to construct overpasses “East of Curepe” to help ease traffic congestion.