The mood is mixed about a redesign of the junction of Queen Street and Church Street, with residents expressing both hope and worry.

The Corporation of Hamilton plans to improve the look of the area and install a new traffic light. Trenching and kerbside reconfiguration are involved.

During the rains on Thursday, members of the public visited the consultation booth set up at the by the Corporation of Hamilton at Pier 6 to find out more about the project.

City engineers Patrick Cooper and Chris Bulley were on hand to provide explanations about the project and the implications of its implementation. They also spoke to visitors about their concerns.

“I came to find out what it’s about and I think it would generally improve the outlook of the area,” one woman said, although she noted that it may result in traffic issues.

Another visitor was excited about the plan but he was also concerned about the traffic issues the project may create. But he added that when the project was completed, his concerns might be allayed.

Mr Bulley explained that the project would be carried out in phases.

The Corporation of Hamilton will utilise the information gathered during the consultation process, which closes at the end of the month, and then begin work on the final model for the project.

He said the three-dimensional model of the project, which was on display at the consultation booth on Thursday, may not be the final design. The comments and suggestions made by the public will be taken into account before the project is finalised, he noted.

The engineer said since the consultation process started this week, the corporation had taken note of the comments and suggestions made by the public on social media. He said the comments section on The Royal Gazette website under a story published earlier this week on the project was also noted.

“We have also received a number of e-mails,” he added.

The City of Hamilton said the project would involve utilising the “split-cycle and offset-optimisation technique” – or Scoot – into the junction.

The technology uses sensors to quickly adjust traffic lights to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, allowing for a more efficient flow.

Mr Bulley said concerns about traffic congestion would be taken into account as the project design was finalised.

Visitors were concerned about new traffic lights that would be installed on Church Street in front of the City Hall car park.

Mr Bulley said the new lights were expected to make it easier for traffic to merge from Queen Street, heading east into Church Street.

Motorists moving in that direction will also be able to cross into Dismont Drive to access the car park when traffic stops at the lights.

He said pedestrians would benefit from crossings placed in front of the lights and added that the traffic-light system would undergo testing to ensure efficiency. It will also be tested and configured to function with other traffic lights in the area.

Other changes include the planting of trees and creation of green spaces. He said the trees would provide more shade.

Existing trees in the area may only live for another decade and this will be taken into account.

The facelift entails the placement of the When Voices Rise sculpture at the junction. Whether this move will materialise will be determined in the final design of the project, Mr Bulley said.

Earlier this week, Mr Cooper said the project gave the corporation an opportunity to make overall improvements to the City.

The public has been encouraged to view the plans on the City’s website and provide feedback throughout the month by e-mailing consultation@cityhall.bm.