Not sure exactly what the deal is but traffic has been horrendous in the Simpson Bay area in the 3:30 to 5:00+ range almost daily. I know it is a busy time and it is nearing Regatta but this seems worse than I have seen in the past.

If you are doing a spectator boat or anything that involves going through Simpson Bay, allow double the time you normally would. It took us 30 minutes from Royal Palm to get to Billy Folly Rd at 4:30 last night and others in our group coming from the Maho are missed the Sunset Cruise we were scheduled on.

I can only expect traffic to get heavier the closer it gets to Regatta so take heed, leave early if coming into Simpson Bay. If parking close and walking is an option, do that. We would have walked to Aqua Mania yesterday but one in the party can not make the hill.

I don't know what is going on either, but it is worse than I've ever seen it. If you allow double the time to get there you will still be late, try tripling the time.
Hell, once I got on the bridge, it took 20 minutes to get from one side of the bridge to the other!

It has been really bad. I haven't even been able to get a drink on your tab yet!

Last week we were returning to SBR from Pinel via Maho. From just outside Maho it took us over an hour.

When we were there near the end of January the backup going towards Philipsburg (Airpost/Welfare rd) was ridiculous and of course the car in front of us was the last one to be able to cross the bridge before it opened.

No biggie since we weren't going anywhere fast...had a great view of the passing ships and there were quite a few

When the show was over and the bridge closed I was amazed that the traffic had only progressed a bit past Lee's...maybe 10 cars

SO it's not really the bridge opening that starts the mess (as I assumed)...something further down Welfare Rd. is the culprit..and it was like this most every day.

The bridge plays a part but is not at all the main culprit.

Last night I was driving to Grand Case from Simson Bay. The lagoon bridge was backed up by traffic going toward Cole Bay. After clearing that I ran into jam in Marigot before Super U Mkt. Could see traffic backed up on hill past last round a bout. Turned around and dined in Sandy Ground. No explanation for either backup. No Carnival,no Regatta stuff. ????

I used to also think so, but every day traffic is heavy travelling from Simpson Bay to Cole Bay, no bridge between them.

I understand that there is construction going on in the Columbier area and it is causing all kinds of problems on the French side.

I went through there yesterday, and the road construction is finished except for striping the pavement.

Construction work in Colombier has been now scheduled at night. The day they started, there was a pile up all the way to Cole Bay. Local authorities closed the site and forced them to work at night.

Grand Case backup was construction in Columbier. Hopefully done per today's post. Phillipsburg backup was police control at roundabout going up hill in Cole Bay. Brilliant placement and timing. At least they seized one gun.

Story here.
https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/63996-three-arrested-for-firearm-possession

Isn't that a rental plate?

Yes, R-xxxx would indicate a Dutch side rental vehicle. Could be a stolen vehicle or plate or they rented a vehicle or bought an old plate and used it. The vehicle used in the armed robbery of a jewelry store back in Feb. actually had an old Taxi plate according to the reports.

Selling old SXM plates is pretty popular. That is why you see so many with plastic wrapped around them, nicer looking and easier to sell.

Makes me think that there might have been some planned bad situation stopped...

How's the traffic in Simpson Bay since regatta started? Headin to the airport tomorrow from orient. 3:15 flight on Delta.

Today, between 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. traffic was not bad at all.

But at 5 p.m. heading from airport towards Simpson Bay Bridge was really backed-up. Luckily I was going the other direction, and had no problem.