The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

SANDYPORT lived up to its name yesterday as a series of large waves swept across West Bay Street, stranding jitneys and cars and causing traffic chaos.

The surf began to rise around dawn but swelled rapidly, leaving sand, seaweed and debris across the road by the Sandyport Street entry and washing into cars. One resident said that around 8:45 to 9am things got really “dangerous”.

Traffic travelling east had to be diverted across to share the westbound carriageway of the coastal highway.

Several vehicles were trapped by the current and some estimates suggested the sea water washed inland approximately 500 yards to the Rubis gas station.

A mechanical digger had to be brought in to clear away the sand and a jitney while volunteers helped clear up.

“I was coming into work for nine this morning,” one worker at the Sandyport mall told The Tribune.

“I noticed the sand and seaweed starting to pile higher the closer I got to work. That is when I saw the big waves.”

Residents claimed that this was a rare occurrence, saying that yesterday’s event “usually happens during rough weather”.

One said: “Once the winds pick up and rip currents and surges pick up this is what we have. There used to be a sea wall there that didn’t prevent these occurrences, but did limit them.

“The roads near the sea would be closed off due to water, sand, seaweed and other debris completely making that side of the road impossible to drive on. This experience today is a lot more than we are used to.”

According to one motorist, around 9am large waves “thrashed” both roads and vehicles. “I was somewhat surprised at the size of the waves in respect to the time. This isn’t something for this area. But for it to take place around this time, it was a shocker.”