Residents and visitors alike are charting new paths on our roads as the National Street Signage Infrastructure Programme is now in full motion. Launched in March of this year, under the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW). The project aims to replace 500 street signs across the island.

According to Jason Bowen, Deputy Chief Technical Officer (DCTO) responsible for Traffic Management at MTW, they will be seeking to touch all parishes in the country and replace the signage along all major highways. These signs include directional, confirmatory, places of interest and finger-tip signs.

“Over the years, we would have seen the deterioration of the signs and the need for maintenance and replacement of most of them. What we did, was carry out a survey of signs across the country and got the condition of the signs, then identified which signs needed to be replaced. This project was then formulated to replace everything.”

The DCTO added that the ministry has engaged contractors to assist with the manufacture and reinstallation of the signs.

Mavis Marshall of Friendly Signs, one of the contractors with the project, said since the commencement of the signage project they have installed signs in most parishes on the island.

“We have placed Confirmatory Signs in St. Lucy, St. Thomas, St. James and St. Andrew. We have also installed brown and white Places of Interest Signs in St. John and near the bottom of Farley Hill, which are made of three millimeter thick aluminium. Signs have also been placed in St. Peter where the last of the 8 ft x 4 ft Directional Signs (which are green and white or black and white) will be installed near the roundabout.” They have also installed signs in Christ Church and St. Michael and will be heading into St. George shortly.

Mrs. Marshall added the Confirmatory Signs, which are usually white and black and highlight districts, are 36 inches by 1 foot. These signs which are placed at the top of poles, are made out of aluminium and diamond grade material. The contractor stressed that all signs were of 3-inch aluminium and diamond grade material and are also reflective. The signs have also been laminated, which should protect them from environmental hazards and vandalism, and should ensure a life span of approximately 10 years.

“The majority of the signs were in poor condition with most of them were stripping because the lamination could only last so long. The visibility was also terrible but now that we have gone in, we know that persons would be better able to see where they are going since we have replaced the signs.” said Mrs. Marshall.

Most of the signs have been replaced in the exact positions they were previously placed. However, the contractor, in consultation with the ministry, has made slight changes to the locations of some of the signs. According to her, this was due to the changing infrastructure and the construction of buildings and structures which were not previously at some of the locations. To date, over 90 signs have been installed so far. These include 36 Directional Signs, 50 Confirmatory Signs and six Places of Interest Signs. The contractor added they are half way through their assignment and it is expected their portion of the project will be completed by next year. (PR/MTW)

Top Mavis Marshall, Friendly Signs and Jason Bowen MTW’s Deputy Chief Technical Officer discussing the new Directional Sign at the Bottom of Rendezvous Hill (Photo by W. Murray/MTW)

A Place of Interest Sign in St. John(Photo by W. Murray/MTW)