Edward Thomas, president and chief executive officer of the West Indian Co. Ltd., has offered "a way out" of westbound traffic congestion in Mandela Circle.
If Public Works Commissioner Harold Thompson Jr. accepts Thomas' proposal, westbound vehicles will be able to bypass the traffic backup caused by vehicles waiting to turn right at Mandela Circle. An existing access road on WICO property would be turned into a one way road going west past Wendy's and onto Long Bay Road.
The WICO cruise ship dock sees an average of 6,800 cruise ship passengers a day, according to Thomas. Moving those passengers from the dock to Charlotte Amalie and other areas of the island is a major issue on a daily basis.
In a Sept. 15 letter to Thompson, Thomas said, "We as a company are making a number of traffic improvements inside our property to facilitate the movement of so many people and vehicles. Our goal is to move people away from the pier as quickly as possible, getting them to the various attractions that they came to St. Thomas to see."
Thomas said the plan would move more vehicles at a faster pace onto the roads.
The project would be completed at no cost to the government, Thomas said.
WICO would remove the existing fence next to its property and would complete the alterations needed at the Wendy's entrance.
Thompson referred an inquiry about the proposal to Assistant Commissioner Wayne Callwood who was off-island.
