City traffic disruptions expected for Sobers’ state funeral

Members of the travelling public and businesses in the City are being advised to plan for traffic delays and diversions on Wednesday owing to the state funeral for National Hero the Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers. “Bear with us and be cooperative,” urged Barbados Police Service Communications Officer acting Inspector Ryan Brathwaite, while speaking to Barbados TODAY. He outlined several road closures from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., including along Lower Bay Street, River Road, Bridge Road, St Michael’s Row, Upper and Lower Broad Street, Cowell Street, Fontabelle, and President Kennedy Drive. “The procession is due to move off around 8:45 a.m. So, as a result, traffic will be delayed in some instances and prohibited in some instances. There will be a phased reopening of the roadway as the procession moves towards its final destination,” he said, while encouraging persons to cooperate with and obey any instructions given by those police officers with the police officers on duty. “To all the businesses in and around Bridgetown, I want to sincerely apologise for any inconvenience that this disruption may cause you on the day, and to encourage those businesses who are having deliveries to please try to have those deliveries done on Tuesday.” The cortege will then leave Kensington Oval, head right onto the Mighty Grynner Highway, onto University Hill, Warrens, and turn left at the JTC Ramsay roundabout (Bussa roundabout) onto Mapp Hill, through South District, Watts Village, Boarded Hall, Lower Greys and culminate at Skeene’s Hill. You Might Be Interested In Inspector Brathwaite said: “Those roadways will be closed between the hours of 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. There will also be a phased reopening as the cortege passes each area. At Coral Ridge, there will be road closures from the Ridge roundabout by Coral Ridge up to the Newton roundabout, from the Ridge roundabout up to Searles, from the Ridge roundabout to Yorkshire and from the Ridge roundabout back to St. David’s.” During Sunday’s rehearsal of the procession from Parliament to Kensington Oval, many City streets were barricaded, resulting in motorists having to seek alternate routes. Brathwaite said the police were working to “tighten up” to minimise disruption as much as possible. (JB)