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Jammed-up
The uniflow traffic system introduced last week runs into snags but authorities remain optimistic. Ishani Ranasinghe reports
The new traffic system introduced last Sunday and Monday on a trial basis was aimed at easing heavy traffic blocks. It envisaged a one-way traffic flow northward along the Galle Road from Wellawatte upto Kollupitiya Junction while traffic moving southward from the Liberty Plaza roundabout would use Duplication Road upto Dharmapala Road, Wellawatte.

The trial run however threw up several shortcomings and the authorities are now back at the drawing board to iron them out. Y.G.R.M Lafir, Senior Superintendent Police of Colombo City Traffic Police pointed out that when the trial run was held on Sunday, a day with fewer vehicles, traffic had flowed smoothly. On Monday however, a day considered to have the heaviest traffic flow, "we had a few problems."

As a result of incomplete repairs on W.A De Silva Mawatha, Wellawatte, many people take Peterson Lane. "Therefore when the one-way traffic system was implemented, at about 7.30, 7.45 in the morning we had about 500- 600 vehicles coming into Galle Road," said SSP Lafir. Another problem was that many people could not make a 'U' turn near the Bambalapitiya Flats to head to the opposite direction with the one-way traffic system.

As SSP Lafir sees it, in a country like Sri Lanka where the number of vehicles on the road increases every day, the uniflow traffic system is a must. But how do the public see it?

While most motorists favoured a smooth flow of traffic they were not 'all for the new system'. "It has not been planned out properly," said H. Silva who says that a lot more time was wasted on the road mainly because no one really knew which roads they could take and could not.

"Many people opted to take alternate roads causing more of a traffic jam," said J. Soysa adding that at one point the traffic was clogged for a good 15 - 20 minutes down Havelock Road. "The other problem is the by-roads," he said, pointing out that they are just too narrow.

With Galle Road now having six lanes of traffic moving in the same direction many believe things will go smoothly. But the problem arises when you want to switch lanes. "The islands in the middle are a hindrance," said L. Fernando. SSP Lafir responds that once the new system runs smoothly, the Colombo Municipal Council should remove them.

Another resident of Deal Place, Colombo 3 pointed out the hazards faced by pedestrians trying to cross the Galle Road through six fast moving lanes of traffic. “I had a narrow escape on Monday,” he said, warning that regular crossings and safety at these points is a factor the authorities must pay heed to.

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