South Camp traffic alarm

School administrators in the immediate environs where a new 5,000-square-foot PriceSmart location is earmarked for opening by the end of this calendar year, are viewing with some concern how the development will impact the area.

PriceSmart, the largest operator of membership-based warehouse clubs in Central America, the Caribbean, and Colombia, operates similarly to United States-based clubs like Costco, providing members with goods, ranging from groceries and electronics to apparel, at lower prices through bulk purchasing.

It opened its first location in Jamaica in February 2003 at Red Hills Road in St Andrew, before opening a second club nearly 20 years later in April 2022 in Portmore, St Catherine.

PriceSmart has now announced that it will open a third store in Montego Bay, St James, in the autumn and a fourth later in the year on South Camp Road in Kingston, for which ground has already been broken.

The popularity of the franchise’s business model means that thousands of shoppers descend on the locations, especially around the month-end pay cycle, often resulting in traffic gridlock.

It’s that potential for another traffic nightmare that has administrators of schools located mere metres away nervous.

Dave Myrie, principal of Kingston College (KC), described the area as an educational enclave.

Along with his all-boys institution is St Georges College, a predominantly boys’ school located almost directly across from KC on North Street.

There is also Holy Trinity High, Convent of Mercy Academy, and some primary schools, which already contributes to traffic snarls during morning rush hour and when schools let out in the afternoon. It gets worse when there is cricket at Sabina Park.

“PriceSmart adds another flavour. Initially, I thought it was [an] office, but I now understand it’s a full-fledged operation. The traffic in the area will increase significantly. Plus, there is more development coming, as I understand an office complex is to be built where [the] old cinema used to be.

“Commerce is good. It’s good for the economy, good for the area; jobs, etc. But something must be done, will have to be done, in terms of safeguarding students, because students are moving in and around the area in a big way, and something must be done.”

Stakeholder input

Myrie also questioned what he believes to be the absence of any input from stakeholders in the vicinity.

“I’m not aware of any consultation that has been done, either, with any of us in the area to ask what we feel about it because, look, there are pros and cons to everything, you know. PriceSmart coming may be a good thing for the economy as well and good for the area. My notion about it is, the authorities must have something to be done out there, because it could never stay as it is,” Myrie told The Gleaner.

Margaret Campbell, principal of St George’s, told The Gleaner she, too, is worried about the increased traffic flow in the area and what it will mean for vehicular as well as pedestrian traffic.

“I do have concerns about the traffic. There are many schools in the area and already the traffic is a challenge. What are our town planners thinking?”

In the shadow of the proposed facility are Convent of Mercy Academy (Alpha High) and Alpha Primary School.

Kali McMorris, principal at Alpha High, told The Gleaner the school’s administration is concerned about the development and their hope is that preparations are made for the times in the year when traffic is at its heaviest in the area.

“Maybe they will consider expanding South Camp Road. I recall that this plan was on the table when we (Caribbean nations) were hosting the World Cup.”

Jamaica’s Sabina Park was a venue during the ICC World Cup, which the region hosted in 2007.

“Obviously, there are advantages and disadvantages with any development. There are advantages, for instance, for the city with more and more people traversing to areas like St Thomas, given recent developments in that parish. But it requires proper planning and execution. I believe the advantages could outweigh the disadvantages, but again, it requires foresight and proper planning. We can’t wait until the problems arise,” McMorris told The Gleaner.

In an emailed response to questions, Town Clerk Robert Hill told The Gleaner that “having consulted with the corporation’s technical officers, as well as the documents related to this information, the KSAMC (Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation), in considering same, would have received non-objection/supporting recommendations from the National Works Agency (NWA)”.

The NWA said that when the original designs were submitted, the agency raised concerns about the potential impact on traffic flow in the area. It said that, as a result, adjustments were made to the plans to improve traffic movement and reduce possible congestion along South Camp Road and adjoining corridors.

According to NWA Senior Communication Officer Monique Gordon, some of the measures include entry and exit points to prevent bottlenecking around the business.

“The development includes adequate access points to support traffic movement,” she said.

“To further reduce the risk of bottlenecking, a left-in-only access will be provided along South Camp Road near the traffic signal, along with a designated exit onto Glenmore Road. This layout is intended to improve circulation and limit traffic issues.”

With more than 30,000 vehicles using the corridor daily, according to NWA data, there are plans to widen the roadway, but Gordon would not be drawn into providing a timeline.

“The NWA’s long-term plan for South Camp Road is to widen the corridor to four lanes, install a central median, and introduce traffic signals at critical intersections. These upgrades are being planned with consideration for existing land usage along the corridor, including schools, commercial properties, and Sabina Park, to foster efficient traffic movement,” Gordon said.

PriceSmart’s South Camp Road location was originally slated for an autumn 2026 opening, but was delayed by roughly three months due to disruptions caused by Hurricane Melissa in October last year.

karen.madden@gleanerjm.com