Police have not revealed how many officers were working directing traffic during Wednesday evening's massive rush-hour pile up nor the hours they put in. This came after a public outcry on the absence of officers during the delay which lasted for close to four hours.

The traffic jam was caused as utility men worked to fix a high voltage cable that services the hospital.

Police Media Relations Officer Evelyn James Barnett conceded that the situation was "unsatisfactory'' but said "the congestion was policed as best as could be done at the time, given the manpower.'' She pointed out that a Traffic Sergeant and his officers were at Chapel Road directing vehicles and noted that the public had been advised to expect delays.

"There have been some lessons learned,'' she noted, "and hopefully with continued dialogue, yesterday's congestion should not be repeated.'' Meanwhile, in response to criticism that not enough planning went into the project, Chief Executive Officer of the Bermuda Electric Light Company (Belco), Garry Madeiros said: "In fact we did delay the work for a few days so that adequate planning and notice to the public could be given.'' Mr. Madeiros revealed that Belco met with Police and Works & Engineering to plan the project, and while very complimentary about their input he said they never gave the impression the disruption would be as major as it turned out to be.

"Our team never got any sense from the talks, that the situation was as it turned out to be.'' he said.

"They were very helpful in advising on on signage and traffic direction.'' Extending "my sincere apologies to the motoring public for the chaos and long delays after 5 o'clock'' Mr. Madeiros sought to explain the necessity of the work.

The fixing of a high voltage cable, one of two that service the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital was the cause of the traffic jam. As a matter of public safety, two cables are used so that in the event of a malfunction or failure in one, the other comes online and the hospital is never without electricity.

"It is important to remember that the work had to be done to restore power to a high voltage cable that serves the hospital,'' Mr. Madeiros pointed out.

"People have said we should have waited until the weekend to carry out the work but we feel that the importance of the hospital overshadows that concern.

"What complicated it is that the cable goes to the middle of the road and so we could not allow even single lane traffic out of concern that the sides of the road might have collapsed.'' he explained.

"We knew that the work was extensive and would take all night and even into the next day, so we purposely waited until after the morning rush hour to minimise delays.'' Holding that the chance of a re-occurance is "remote'', Mr. Madeiros said that Belco are looking at ways the situation could have been better handled.

"In the future we may work and then cover the road in before the evening rush hour,'' he said, "then dig it all out again and continue to work.'' TRAFFIC TFC