Courthouse loop closed
to traffic as of today
~Back Street opened to taxis, buses only~
PHILIPSBURG--Wilhelminasteeg, next to the courthouse, will be closed for six weeks to vehicular traffic as of today, Monday, at 7:00am. Drivers on Back Street will now have to access Front Street via D.C. Steeg, across from the Anglican Church.
Others may access the street from Schoolsteeg, next to Oranje School, via Cannegieter Street.
Hendrikstraat, the other alleyway next to the courthouse, remains open for traffic leaving Front Street and heading to Cannegieter Street. This street will be closed just for the day on Saturday as part of the Back Street Beautification Project.
New Projects Development and Planning Head Kurt Ruan told The Daily Herald the closure is necessary to allow the digging of a trench in which utilities cables will be placed underground.
Once underground, these cables, running from the Kadaster office to the Philipsburg Marketplace, will be linked with the cables under the first section of Back Street that stop at Angelo’s Boutique.
To link the two sets of cables, Back Street will be closed off from the Anglican Church on Saturday, July 21, from 5:00am. A large septic pit will also be installed opposite Angelo’s. Ruan said this part of the work will take just one day.
As of today, Back Street will be opened only to buses and taxis. Ruan appealed to other drivers to respect the signage and not use the street. “Only buses and taxis are allowed, this to lessen the congestion in the area.”
The concrete block that restricted left turns next to Philipsburg Baptist Church will be removed. However, no right turns into the street will be possible; it is now a one- way street
The taxi associations have been informed of the traffic changes and will pass on the information to their members. Permission has been given to taxis to use Whilhelminasteeg as a taxi holding area for the duration of its closure.
Philipsburg Independent Taxi Association President O’Neil Arrindell and Vice President Leon Maynard said they were cooperating with the changes because it was the only way for the work to continue and be completed within the scheduled six weeks.
However, once again, they made a plea to Public Works Commissioner Theo Heyliger for more taxi spaces on Back Street. When the section of the street in front of Angelo’s has been paved with bricks in the coming days, the taxis will have at least two spots.
The second phase of the beautification project is on track and is ready for the bricks.
