What do you suggest to solve the traffic problems?

Hiya!

It has been ages since I last posted something on this blog! Glad to be back with something new 🙂

Although there has been many hot topics to talk about, I was quite reluctant to write on them. In fact, there has been so many scandals revealed almost at the same time that even newspapers are finding it difficult to stay within their page limits. As for private radios, entertainment shows had to be cancelled in order to accommodate live broadcasts. Just to quote a few of the scandals : Terre Rouge Verdun, Nandinee Sousnack, Dan Kalikan, Pandit’s Restaurant, closed access to Mon Choisy public Beach… And of course, Navin and the Rs 220 millions found in his safe boxes and suitcases. Although I believe that justice must prevail, I have a fear that his panel of lawyers, made up of the most renowned ones in the island, will probably find legal loopholes somewhere in our constitution to get him out of his own sh*t.

Traffic problems

Anyway, let’s talk about the traffic congestion problem which got worse ever since Terre Rouge Verdun Link Road was closed on the 21st January 2015. While waiting for the completion of necessary reparations which might take a year, the authorities have already started to enlarge existing road infrastructures to try to alleviate this traffic problem.

Proposed ferry system to and fro Port Louis

The idea to write this post came up when I was discussing about the above article which I came across during the day.

Sincerely, I was quite surprised to read that the government is planning to consider a ferry system to connect Pointe Aux Sables, Baie du Tombeau and Port Louis if preliminary reports are favorable. Although we are at a very early stage in this project, I personally don’t think that the project will be viable.

We have all seen how the Metro Leger project of the previous government was rejected by the population for the time being.Let’s wait and see.

Simpler solutions to implement

With the help of colleagues, we came up with the following very nice suggestions of how our traffic can be improved, especially to and fro the capital, Port Louis:

1. Construction of flyovers at (a) the traffic lights in front of Port Louis Waterfront – Places d’Armes, (b) immigration square and (c) Quay D – ICAC roundabout. These flyovers will eliminate the need to halt traffic in order to allow vehicles to get on the other side of the motorway or to get into or out of the capital. Just imagine the chaos if the flyover at Bell Village did not exist.
2. Moving the bus stop at Les Guibies, Pailles to some 50 meters away will ensure continuous flow of vehicle in 3 lanes. Currently, there are 3 lanes at Camp Chapelon, then 2 lanes along the bus stop and finally, 4 lanes, just after the bus stop.
3. Eliminate the maximum of roundabouts in our road network.
   While The Terre Rouge and Phoenix roundabouts should be replaced by something similar to Caudan or Reduit, other roundabouts like the one at the ghost city (Jin Fei) should never have been constructed in the first place.
4. Give more incentives to bus companies to improve the public transport system by replacing those old buses with newer ones like the low-floor one.
5. Construction of secure parking areas close to the motorways to encourage people to drive to these areas, park their cars and then, head to the capital in comfortable buses. This will not only provide parking at a lower cost to individuals but it will also decrease the number of vehicles to the capital if these parking areas are connected to the bus network.

   

6. The bus lane at Victoria (La gare) should be extended by eliminating the unused space alongside the Vacoas Express bus stand. This will eliminate the need for other vehicles on the motorway to halt in order to allow buses to join the 2 lanes of the motorway.
7. Create a national awareness program to emphasize on the benefits of car pooling, as previously explained in one of my blog posts. Just imagine, if people start sharing their car daily, it does not only save fuel but also solves traffic problems, prevents unnecessary stress and reduces number of cars on our roads.
8. A better management of the free transport for students can actually increase the willingness of people to use the public transport system. Nowadays, endless number of complaints are registered because students use public transport buses instead of dedicated school buses. Result : Employees are penalized because buses are most often filled with students while school buses are used by only a small number of students.
9. I don’t know how far this can be beneficial but what if school hours are changed? Let’s say that instead of the usual 8am to 230pm, the school hours are moved to 9am to 330pm ( or something similar?) Of course, this can make very unhappy people but if this can help to improve the flow of traffic, so, why not?
10. Lastly, get that damn Terre Rouge Verdun road operational again and make sure that those persons (whoever they are!) assume their responsibilities and pay for their incompetency!

To end on a more positive note, I’m glad of the very good initiative of conducting a pilot project in Curepipe by allowing people to take their practical driving tests there instead of Port Louis. Also, the new government has also reconsidered to move part of the governmental departments and services to Highlands. Thumbs up!

Any more ideas to contribute to a better and cleaner Mauritius with less traffic jams, pollution and cost?

Thanks for reading and bon weekend!