VERBAL and physical abuse from motorists has forced road workers to wear body cameras for protection – and even prompted police involvement in some cases.
Ronez/Pallot managing director Mike Osborne said that the lack of co-operation from Islanders ignoring diversion routes and signs has created “a more stressful and a more difficult working environment” for his staff.
It comes just one week after this newspaper revealed that more than 40% of Islandwide roadworks could be illegal or non-compliant.
Mr Osborne’s company is currently working on the permitted resurfacing of La Grande Route de la Cote in St Clements, which began on 21 July and is due to be completed by the end of August.
He explained that roadwork schemes are “designed meticulously over a long period of time by various departments” and that “a big part of this is the traffic management, including organising diversions”.
The works have caused road closures in the parish, with alternative routes and diversions offered along Rue de Fauvic, La Grande Route de St Clement and along Green Road, La Grande Route de St Clement, Rue de Fauvic.
Mr Osborne acknowledged that there will “inevitably be people impacted by the need to have diversions”, but said that staff have faced a issues with people thinking they can just “nip through” diversions.
He said that his workers had experienced “mild irritation” and “verbal abuse” from Islanders disobeying instructions – which has entered into the “territory of physical abuse” on occasion.
“I think it’s disgraceful we’ve got to a situation now where these operatives are having to wear body cams for their own protection,” said Mr Osborne.
He added that these encounters are a “small minority” but cannot be “brushed under the carpet”.
“Having the work objectives undermined by this vociferous, arrogant minority when we’re trying to deliver essential work safely, I think is disgraceful,” he said.
Mr Osborne urged islanders to co-operate, adding that roadworks are required “for the good of the island.”
“We must remember that the reason for these traffic management schemes are for safety whilst we’re delivering these essential pieces of work, upgrading the Island infrastructure so that we’ve got a road network that is fit for purpose, and ultimately, we’re proud of,” he said.
“It’s for the safety of the people who are living within the works area and impacted by the work near their houses, residences and businesses, and it’s also for the safety of everyone else that’s affected on the diversion routes.”
Mr Osborne added: “I’d ask people to show a little respect for the people that are working on these schemes, to be a little bit more patient in the event that we’re disrupted by realistically, a few minutes in the worst situation, so that we can do these works efficiently and get the get it done, dusted as quickly as possible.
“We are very appreciative of the support that we get from the parish of St Clement on this particular scheme, and ultimately also the States of Jersey Police, who have intervened in particular individual cases.”
