Gov’t to ban parking on 3 Kingstown streets as new port opens 

Parking in Kingstown is about to get even more limited as the government bans parking on three streets of the city beginning later this month. 

Minister of Urban Development and Ports, Senator Benarva Browne, has identified  McCoy, Higginson and Melville streets among those on which parking will end after the new port in the city opens.

Brewster’s Auto is located on McCoy Street, Yankee is located on Higginson Street and Gonsalves Liquor and Subway (downtown) are located on Melville Street.

During Monday’s sitting of Parliament, Opposition Leader Godwin Friday asked the minister to say when the port will become operational.

Friday also wanted to know what, if anything, was required to be done to make the approach to the port more accessible, especially for large trucks with trailers.

He also asked the minister to tell Parliament about the consideration that had been given to the impact on traffic to and from the port on the overall traffic situation in Kingstown.

Browne noted that the contractor handed over to the government on Sept. 16 the keys to two of the buildings at the port. 

“And the reason why we did this was to allow the Port Authority to begin their preparation work and to start to set up,” Browne said.  

She said this was with a view that once the port is fully handed over to the government on Oct. 24, it would begin operating the next day.

Browne said the existing traffic flow to and from the new Port Kingstown will be revised to optimise the movement between the projected volumes and the turning radii required for 40-foot containers 

She said that within the scope of work, the contractor will undertake minor road improvements at Melville Street and Bay Street, McCoy Street and Bay Street, Higginson Street and Bay Street, and Higginson Street and Grenville Street. 

“The works will include surface pavement repairs, manhole upgrades, drainage repairs,” she said, adding that no corner-widening works are expected to be executed under the port construction contract, as current turning radii have been deemed adequate.

“However, to facilitate large truck movements, roadside parking along certain streets must be discontinued. These streets include McCoy, Melville and Higginson,” Browne said. 

She said a traffic volume assessment study was commissioned when the port project began.

This study projected traffic patterns and increases for the 30 years following the opening of the port.

“Findings are currently under review, and the implementation of the recommendation measures will be undertaken in close collaboration with the police and other relevant stakeholders,” Browe said.

She said the government is committed to ensuring that the traffic to and from the new port is properly managed to minimise disruption and to maintain safe and efficient movement in Kingstown.

“This government remains steadfast in our commitment to ensure that the new Port Kingstown delivers its objective of enhancing trade and strengthening our economic competitiveness and improving our national development while integrating responsibly into the daily operations of Kingstown,” the senator told Parliament.