Reply: The junction of Mapou-Goodlands Road (A5 Road) and Vale Road (B12 Road) is a signalised T-junction. With regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed that a survey conducted by the Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit (TMRSU) has revealed that during peak hours, there is a high volume of traffic coming from A5 Road and Goodlands Bypass (A13 Road) wishing to right turn to accede onto B12 Road. As such, the vehicles have to wait for a safe gap to perform this right turning movement or for vehicles coming from Motorway M2 to provide the right of way, as a courtesy, for vehicles on A5 to right turn onto B12 Road. In

143 doing so, traffic queues quickly build up. This high volume of right turning traffic movement during peak hours is the primary cause of queueing at this signalised T-junction. As regards part (b) of the question, I am informed by the TMRSU that as an immediate measure, it has provided an early cut-off for the traffic signal for the leg coming from Motorway M2, that is, stopping the vehicles along this leg and simultaneously increasing the green time for the traffic signal phasing along A5 Road, to cater for the high volume of right turning traffic movement. This measure is intended to give the high volume of right-turning vehicles on A5 Road more time to clear the intersection and thus provide immediate relief for the queue build-up. I am further informed that, as a short-term solution, the TMRSU has worked out the following options, for implementation by the Road Development Authority (RDA) – (i) Providing a dedicated right turning lane along A5 Road for traffic right-turning onto B12 Road as well as the provision of left turning slip lanes, to reduce queueing by segregating turning traffic and through traffic. (ii) Construction of a new link road from the existing roundabout at junction of A5 Road and A13 (Goodlands Bypass) Road up to the B12 Road, passing next to Daruty Cemetery. This measure is expected to reduce traffic volume at the signalised junction of A5/B12 by diverting traffic from Daruty to Petit Raffray/Goodlands and vice-versa. I am informed by the RDA that as per the design submitted by the TMRSU for the provision of a slip lane from Mapou-Goodlands Road, A5 towards Vale Road, B12, land is to be acquired from Societe Rouillard. The land acquisition process has already been initiated and is currently ongoing. The RDA intends to implement the project as soon as land acquisition procedures would be completed and financial clearance obtained from the Ministry of Finance. FORBACH ROAD, FOND DU SAC – BUILDING CONSTRUCTION DETAILS