Police do their best to manage the flow of traffic despite numerous accidents and delays.
Cayman’s roads continue to undergo many changes as the Government grapples with improving traffic conditions for the Islands’ commuters. The need to find new ways to alleviate rush-hour congestion is already a contentious issue amongst residents, and that debate continues to grow in fervour. It is widely believed that the pace of residential development in Grand Cayman is outstripping the highway infrastructure necessary to support it.
Works on the Crewe Road realignment and widening (westbound from Grand Harbour) are underway, including the King’s Sports Centre roundabout enhancement linking to Edgewater Way, so residents can avoid Grand Harbour altogether. This is the next stage of a multi-phase development that involves increasing lane capacity on the primary Grand Harbour arterials and their intersections. The area has long been considered a bottleneck, and the main cause of rush hour traffic for commuters coming from the eastern districts. But with 28,000 vehicles expected to be passing through the area by 2036 (which is a 57% increase on the current amount), the challenge is huge.
Other current NRA projects include:
• A two to six lane increase of the Linford Pierson Highway, with a connecting road from Outpost Street. Much of this upgrade is now in operation, if not already complete.
• The extension and beautification of Godfrey Nixon Way, in keeping with a ‘neighbourhood’ theme, with a landscaped median connecting Eastern Avenue to the main George Town area.
• The Airport Connector Road (ACR) linking the roundabout by Cayman International School with Sparky’s Drive in Industrial Park. Phase 1 is now complete, with Phase 2 to begin construction in early 2025
• The East-West Arterial Road expansion extending from Hirst Road to Breakers. In August of 2024 the Government approved the proposed route. The first phase is now open as of March 5th 2025 and segues from Rex Crighton Boulevard across Hirst Road, and then continues until it merges into Shamrock Road opposite Agricola Drive.
You can find out more about these and other projects by visiting the NRA website CaymanRoads.com
Owning a car still has advantages including little traffic (outside of rush hour), free parking in most locations and virtually no traffic wardens! Depending on the size of your family and in which district of the Island you live and work, you may need multiple cars, unless you are prepared to be entirely beholden to the person that has the car.
It is unsurprising that owning and driving your own car is the most convenient, comfortable and speedy mode of transport in the Cayman Islands. Temperature, precarious driving, the lack of sidewalks and inadequate bike paths rule out walking or cycling for most people. The local bus network is intermittent and does not cover all areas. In addition, waiting in the hot sunshine to then sit on a crowded minibus with little or no air conditioning is not everyone’s idea of an ideal daily commute.
Taxis and Taxi Apps
There's a CI Government app that calculates the distance and taxi fares.
After years of complaints that different taxis charged different rates for the same journey, the Cayman Island's Government have created a digital taxifare calculator, CI:GO, which can be downloaded from the App store. It is free and is available on iOS and in the Google Play Store.
For other taxi companies you can call Ace (345) 949 3676, Blue Iguana Taxi (345) 916 3306 or Crown (345) 916 0111.
Benefits of Owning a Car
Nonetheless, the most convenient, comfortable and speedy mode of transport on-Island is owning your own car. Temperature, relentless summer rains, precarious driving and the lack of sidewalks rule out the options of walking or cycling, while the local bus network is intermittent and does not cover all areas. In addition, waiting in the hot sunshine to then sit on a crowded minibus with little, or no air conditioning, is not everyone’s idea of the ideal daily commute. There are some major bonuses that Cayman car travel retains: little traffic (outside of rush-hour), free parking in 99% of locations and virtually no traffic wardens! If you are a couple or have a family, then the discussion will arise as to whether you need one car or two. In our experience, you will need two cars, unless you are prepared to be entirely beholden to the person that has the car.