FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Following the recent carnage on Trelawny roads which left five people dead and four others seriously injured, there is a renewed call from the custos of the parish Paul Muschett for the National Works Agency (NWA) to install traffic lights at strategic points leading off the Northern Coastal Highway in the parish, especially into Falmouth.

Muschett is proposing that the road leading off the highway into and out of Rock be abandoned and a forsaken road beside Johnson’s gas station in the area be opened instead, to facilitate a four-way traffic signal at the Daniel Town turn-off.

He is further advocating for the NWA to set up traffic lights at the turn-off from the Bogue Gate section of the highway into Falmouth.

“I have written to the relevant authorities, years ago. I understand that they are having a look at the best possible way with the situation. I suggested then that the stadium [Trelawny Stadium] crossroads leading up to Florence Hall and Stonebrook have a four-way traffic light there and we reopen the old road going past Johnson’s gas station up to the main highway so that there is a four-way stop there. To me, that is the best solution,” Muschett told the Jamaica Observer West.

“Further, block off the entrance and exit at Glistening Waters. It is highly dangerous, as that entrance and exit is below the brow of the hill.”

Less than two years ago three people died after sustaining multiple injuries when a motor car drove out from Rock onto the highway into the path of an oncoming truck.

Late last month, a short distance from the Rock intersection, two men who were among a group travelling in a motorcar on their way from a wake, died as a result of injuries they sustained during a motor vehicle collision at the Daniel Town intersection, bringing the road death toll recorded in the parish to five over a 36-hour span.

The five victims have been identified as 43-year-old Jeffery Cunningham and 35-year-old tiler Greg Gallimore, both of Refuge district; 52-year-old cabinetmaker, Constantine James, also called “Connie”, of Goodwill, St James; 31-year-old businessman, Mervin Douglas, alias “Dougie”, of Florence Hall in Trelawny, and 24-year-old Cheswaine Brown of Wiltshire, also in Trelawny.

Muschett is proposing that “a yellow flashing light be installed at the Hague intersection or even another traffic light because that is another dangerous exit”.

Responding to the custos’ plea, Janel Ricketts, NWA’s community relations officer for the western region says installation of traffic lights at intersections across the island, are currently under consideration.

She quickly pointed out that lack of funding is a major stumbling block.

“Those intersections would be several across the island that we are looking at, but for right now, I can’t say how soon because there are financial constraints associated with that as well, and so we are still evaluating some of those sections,” she said.