at the junction of Collector's Hill and South Road, The Royal Gazette has learned.

The 4,080 square-foot development may worsen what was this week called a "traffic nightmare'' by a Smith's Parish resident.

It is planned for a vacant lot off South Road just east of Cottage Bakery, one of several retail businesses in the area.

"We're ready to go,'' developer Mr. Gilbert Lopes said yesterday.

Mr. Lopes, who has planning approval but is awaiting a building permit, disclosed the complex would probably house a restaurant, hair salon, travel agent, florist and space for several offices and shops.

Works and Engineering Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto said the complex would not necessarily cause a traffic mess.

Problems were caused in the past mostly because of cars reversing onto the main road to get out of parking spots, she said.

But all parking for the complex would be in back. And a safe enter and exit system would be in place, she said.

"It won't bring more traffic to South Shore Road than the South Shore Road already has,'' she said.

The Minister stressed she believed any traffic problems in the area were caused more by the attitudes of road users today than the layout and commercial build-up in the area.

"Bermuda is a small place and we all have to be mindful of our neighbour, as it applies to our roads as well,'' she said.

Mr. Lopes' plan received final approval from the Development Applications Board in May.

Conditions of approval included parking in the back for 27 cars, the protection of palm trees and a 22-foot setback from South Road.

Mr. Lopes' application was first submitted three years ago and considered before the new development plan was put into effect.

The delay in a decision was due to missing technical details and a few objections, Mr. Lopes said.

After years of complaints and traffic snarls and accidents in the area, Government began a $1.5 million project this year to improve the safety of the area.

It created pavements and moved all parking, with the exception of the A-1 grocery store's, to the back.

However, Collector's Hill resident Mrs. Joycelyn Marshall complained this week the area was still not safe.

A-1 was the only business in the area allowed to let cars park in front of it, she said, and it was the "main culprit'' in the "never-ending traffic mess''.

She had observed cars backing into the street, she claimed. She further charged Smith's South representatives Mr. Trevor Moniz and Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge had failed to listen to her complaints.

However, Mr. Moniz yesterday moved to assure residents he and Mr. Woolridge were sympathetic to complaints and he had telephoned Mrs. Marshall yesterday.

Mr. Moniz said he was meeting today with Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto to see if a project to create a parking lot in the back of A-1 could be hurried up.

Once the lot was completed, A-1 would only be allowed to have five parking bays in front.

Mr. Moniz said he would have preferred no parking at all in front of the store, however, it was his understanding MarketPlace officials had made a "strong'' case for it.