Road Closures Simpson Bay starting tonight

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=581682270660734&set=a.355454833283480

For those without FB:

Government of Sint Maarten
7m ·
** Notice to the public **
The construction companies engaged in the reconstruction of St. Maarten's PJIA Airport will proceed with the transportation of several sections of Jet bridges in the coming days.
Moving these large loads will impact traffic on Sint Maarten's roads and police are asking for patience during the designated times.
Component parts for the Jet Bridges will be transported from the pier in Point Blanch to the airport in several large sections over the next few days.
As a result, the gate next to Pollo's Hermanos will be used to access the airport, which will impede traffic in Simpson Bay.
Due to this haul, a section of Airport road from the Bridge to the intersection of Sister Patantia road with Airport road will be closed for a short period of time. The public is requested to use alternate routes for the duration of the road closure.
Initial deliveries are scheduled to commence on the evening of March 14, 2023.
On Tuesday, March 14, goods will leave the port at 6 p.m. and arrive at the airport at 7 p.m. Work will continue until early morning Wednesday, March 15.
PHASE II: with Police escort:
On Thursday 16-March, goods will leave the port at 19:00 and are estimated to arrive at the airport at 21:00.
On Friday 17-March, goods will leave the port at 00:00 and are estimated to arrive at the airport at 02:00.
On Friday 17-March, goods will leave the port at 19:00 and are estimated to arrive at the airport at 21:00.
On Saturday 18-March, goods will leave the port at 00:00 and are estimated to arrive at the airport at 02:00.
PHASE III: with Police escort:
On Monday 20-March, goods will leave the port at 18:00 and arrive at the airport at 19:00. Operations will last a few hours (Loose Cargo).
On Monday 20-March, goods (Tunnel) will leave the port at 19:00 and are estimated to arrive at the airport at 21:00.
On Tuesday 21-March, goods will leave the port at 00:00 and are estimated to arrive at the airport at 02:00.
On Tuesday 21-March, goods will leave the port at 19:00 and are estimated to arrive at the airport at 21:00.
On Wednesday 22-March, goods will leave the port at 00:00 and are estimated to arrive at the airport at 02:00.

Thanks very much .

Good to hear the Jet Bridges are on the way. No telling when they'll be installed but at least they will be on island.

Wow, looks like some traffic issues in Simpson Bay. Thanks for posting.

And, as Scuba says, sure will be nice when the jet bridges are finally installed again!!!

Unless you are out very late it won't be an issue. Except the afternoon May head to YC to watch the fun!

Several days it looks like it will screw with dinner hour traffic--7 to 9 pm.

Sorry, missed that. Looks like two trips a day. Oh boy

Alternative route is around the lagoon

5 days in a row of dinner traffic. Good time to cook in.

I have friends staying at the Atrium. Looks like they will be walking to dinner, unless they go up Billy Folly somewhere.

Did this in fact happen last night?

Saw one truck with yellow flashing lights and an escort go into the airport by another gate closser to the terminal at 18:25.

Was it big enough to hold a jetway, or something else?

I was at the SMYC from the 5PM opening until about 7:30PM and we all were watching out for trucks. The traffic was light in both directions but we never saw it stop completely and must have missed that truck coming by.

Not a jetway but possibly parts.

OK

You know this will be screwed up right?
Just stay in and go local.
i

Love your confidence.

Traffic was a nightmare anyway yesterday with six ships in and a school bus broken down on the mountain.

I went from The Atrium to Philipsburg around 9:30, spent a couple of hours in town and back with no problem. Mid-afternoon and into later afternoon I know it backed up bad and heard there was a broken-down bus of some kind.

For 6 ships being in port, town was not at all busy. Some of the jewelry stores had some traffic and others had none. Kim Sha Beach (near BBB) was not at all busy. The other day with just 3 ships, there were all kinds of activity.

So far, we have not encountered any problems with road closures or traffic in general.

Why they have to make everything more difficult for themselves is beyond me. Why not bring these tunnels through Marigot????

Actually I think there were two broken down school buses. Passed another stopped on Welfare Road I think it was. Plus you had a number of cycle groups from the ships that everyone has to maneuver around.

Because the parts are at the port in Philipsburg and both the port and the airport are on the Dutch side of the island?

BINGO...We have a winner!

That would cause even more congestion. And RC is right along with GaKaye that it's a Dutch side project.

And big articulated trucks might not be able to deal with the narrow road and sharps turns and 2 roundabouts if using the causeway bridge.

What ever route they take there will be those roundabouts.

The picture in the newspaper yesterday showed a much smaller truck than I expected. Probably why there are so many trips. Still haven't had a confirmation that this has actually happened.

According to the Daily Herald, most of the jetway parts have arrived at the airport. It surely will be nice when they are operational again.
Link