GNSC traffic bottleneck a major problem-drivers say

Jul 17, 2010 News

Police were forced to step in yesterday after container trucks blocked the Lombard Street area at GNSC, causing traffic to build up.

– police forced to intervene

Police were forced to intervene at the Guyana National Shipping Corporation, Lombard Street, yesterday after traffic backed up for nearly half a mile because of parked containers on the roadway.
A number of traffic tickets were reportedly issued even as angry drivers complained that the traffic situation around the GNSC, a main shipper in the city, is becoming unbearable.
While workers of GNSC are adamant that they have to carry out security checks before allowing vehicles into the restricted wharf area, they also blamed the parking situation on Punt Trench Road, which is a main artery from Ruimveldt to Lombard Street.
Kaieteur News was on the scene even as upset drivers blared their horns to protest the traffic jam.
A driver, who was right behind two container trucks waiting to enter the GNSC compound, said that he was stuck for almost 15 minutes, unable to move as traffic backed up behind him.
In the compound, a heavy duty equipment lifting containers were in operation blocking vehicles from entering.
Yesterday, Managing Director of GNSC, Andrew Astwood, admitted that the area is a bottleneck but pointed out that it is not unusual for terminals, like the Lombard Street one, to have its own entrance.
He noted that the Punt Trench Road leading to GNSC is a four-lane roadway but with vehicles parking on both sides, it is difficult for the bigger container trucks to properly turn onto Lombard Street.
According to Astwood, even GNSC encounters problems with the no-parking signs in front of its exits. On many days, drivers would park in front of the exits, blocking trucks from leaving the compound.
The shipping official suggested that while Saffon Street, a one-way for southern-bound vehicles between 06:00 hrs-18:00 hrs, has been made that way a few years ago, authorities may need to reconsider especially taking into account the volumes of business being conducted at the La Penitence market during the day.
He suggested that at least one of the two parking lanes, preferably the southern one, be made an exclusive lane for container trucks wanting to enter GNSC.