Seroe Colorado residents sound alarm over dangerous traffic: 120 cars in one hour

ORANJESTAD — UPDATE: Residents of Seroe Colorado are once again raising concerns about their quality of life, but this time the main issue is road safety. According to representatives of the Vereniging van Buurtbewoners di Seroe Colorado, one resident counted 120 cars passing in just one hour on Tuesday morning, between 7:00 and 8:00, on a recently created dirt road leading toward the Secrets hotel. Residents say many vehicles are driving at high speed, while the area has virtually no sidewalks and residents, tourists and children often have to walk partly on the road. The situation represents an escalation of concerns residents already shared with Noticiacla in June of this year, when they complained about increased traffic linked to the hotel and construction activities, speeding vehicles, the lack of safe sidewalks and the fact that Seroe Colorado has only one main road for entering and leaving the area.

TWO DIRT ROADS, BUT A NEW PROBLEM

According to the residents’ association, in earlier meetings with representatives of DOW and DIP they succeeded in getting a dirt road created for traffic linked to the hotel construction, pending the eventual construction of an asphalt road. They clarify that hubada bushes and many cacti were removed during construction of the road, and not mangroves. However, residents say the solution that was supposed to help control traffic created another problem: speed. A few months ago, according to the residents, the San Nicolas neighborhood inspector visited management at the construction site after a resident was nearly hit by workers speeding near the path to Baby Beach. The understanding, residents say, was that this path would always remain accessible to Seroe Colorado residents. They say that after the complaint, instead of slowing down, some drivers began driving even faster.

120 CARS BETWEEN 7 AND 8 A.M.

Since last week, according to the association, one of two dirt roads has been created from 2nd Avenue, the road starting near the chapel in the direction of the hotel. On Tuesday morning, one resident counted 120 cars between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m., according to the association.The concern is that residents also frequently have to walk on or along this road because there is no proper sidewalk. “We cannot walk safely, and even leaving our garages has become dangerous,” is the essence of the residents’ latest complaint.

POLICE: CANNOT MONITOR 24/7

Representatives of the residents said they contacted the San Nicolas police to request intervention. According to them, the response was that police cannot maintain traffic control at the location 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They also tried to contact DOW, but say they were unable to get a response by telephone. Residents question whether simply placing traffic signs would be enough, given their experience that some drivers apparently ignore even direct requests to slow down. According to them, when residents signal motorists to reduce speed, there are cases where drivers instead accelerate.

CHILDREN AND TOURISTS ALSO AT RISK

The issue does not affect only permanent residents. Seroe Colorado has several homes rented through Airbnb, and according to the association, families with children visiting the area must walk in the same space used by vehicles heading toward Baby Beach. Residents say they have already spent more than four years dealing with noise and dust related to the development, and that the concern has now evolved into something more fundamental: being able to leave their homes and walk through the neighborhood without risking an accident.

SECRETS HAS MADE CHANGES

The association does acknowledge that Secrets has made changes. According to residents, the hotel created more space on its own property at the rear for staff and construction workers to park, and most now use that area. However, some vehicles are still parked along the road behind the hotel, forcing tourists to walk on the road to get past them. So, according to residents, the change has helped, but the safety problem has not disappeared.

A SINGLE MAIN ROAD REMAINS A CONCERN

One of the most serious concerns residents raised earlier is that Seroe Colorado effectively has only one main road for incoming and outgoing traffic. This was also part of their complaint to Noticiacla in June. They are now raising another question: what happens in a major emergency? According to the association, the road is used daily by hotel staff vehicles, construction workers, residents, tourists, suppliers and other traffic. They fear that in the event of a fire or another serious emergency at the hotel or in the neighborhood, emergency units could have difficulty reaching or leaving the area quickly because of congestion. The bend after Kaminis in the direction of Anker is also identified as a dangerous point where, according to residents, incidents and hazardous situations occur frequently.

JUNE COMPLAINTS STILL RELEVANT

In June, residents presented Noticiacla with an extensive list of concerns about the future of Seroe Colorado. In addition to traffic and the lack of sidewalks, they mentioned abandoned houses, lack of infrastructure investment, noise, odors from hotel kitchens, water-pressure problems, the future of Santana di Cacho, the lack of a permanent police post and the absence of an alternative emergency route. The current update shows that, at least according to the residents, the traffic problem has not only failed to disappear but has become more urgent.

For them, the question is no longer simply how tourism development can coexist with an existing residential neighborhood, but how the Government, the hotel and the authorities will ensure that people living in Seroe Colorado can continue to walk, leave their garages and move around their own neighborhood safely.