THE frustration many of us in Chaguanas West endure daily – long lines of traffic, wasted hours, increased stress, and damage to our vehicles will soon come to an end. As Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West, I want to assure my constituents that the UNC Government under the leadership of Kamla Persad Bissessar and me are fully aware of these problems and is working tirelessly to address them.
These issues are not distant from us; they are realities for thousands of our residents who travel along the Uriah Butler Highway, the Solomon Hochoy Highway, and into the heart of Chaguanas each day. Congestion at peak hours, insufficient secondary routes, flooding, and poorly designed intersections have combined to choke the community. Our task is to bring meaningful, lasting relief.
Through the Ministry of Works and Transport’s PURE Unit, they are working on advancing the Chaguanas Traffic Alleviation Project. One phase which delivered the Soogrim Trace Roundabout, has improved traffic flow, provided alternative access routes, and reduced waiting time for many commuters.
Further phases, including overpasses at Soogrim Trace and Brentwood, as well as upgrades to the Munroe Road interchange, are being actively pursued and will significantly reduce congestion once completed.
In addition, many road paving and rehabilitation projects are underway under the PURE Programme across the constituency to restore secondary and access roads, thereby easing pressure on the main arteries.
Drainage upgrades are also being tied into these works, since flooding often compounds traffic problems. The recent visit by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Jearlean John was a welcomed plan to highlight the road issues in our constituency.
At the same time, major widening of the Solomon Hochoy Highway and construction of grade-separated interchanges are being implemented to address the sheer volume of vehicles that pass through Chaguanas every day. While these works are sometimes disruptive during construction, they are necessary investments for long-term relief.
As your MP, I have pressed for better traffic management during these projects, including phasing works and providing alternate routes, so that residents do not suffer unduly while solutions are being built.
There is still much more to do. I have been advocating strongly for the acceleration of Phase II and subsequent phases of the alleviation project, and for urgent attention to the key overpasses that will transform traffic flow.
I continue to call for improved public transport options, pedestrian safety, and modern drainage systems that prevent flooding-related gridlock. To the people of Chaguanas West, I thank you for your patience and assure you that I will not rest until our community sees real results. With continued investment, accountability, and partnership between government and citizens, we can end this “traffic jam hell” and build a more mobile, connected, and thriving Chaguanas.
Neil Gosine is the MP for Chaguanas West and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism. He is an insurance executive, holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, a Master’s in Business Administration, a BSc in Mathematics and a BA in Administrative Studies. The views and comments expressed in this column are not necessarily those of AZP News.
