Traffic Problems
Yes, traffic has become a problem again. Especially in the Simpson Bay area, cars move only with a snail's pace during some hours of the day. The frequent openings of the draw bridge, allowing yachts into the lagoon, are causing serious traffic problems during morning and afternoon hours.Between December to May, the openings are as follows:

From May to November, the times are:

These are the official times, but there are also irregular openings for mega yachts, who pay extra for the privilege of interrupting the flow of traffic. The bridge stays open for up to 15 minutes, in some cases longer if the yachts' skippers can't get their act together.If I sound frustrated, don't take me too serious; I have my personal solution and commute to my office in Simpson Bay by dinghy, as I'm a boat owner myself. I'm more worried about the quality of your vacation and would like to give you a few hints how to avoid the traffic jams:
After 4.00pm, don't try to get from the Cupecoy/Maho region into Simpson Bay or even Philipsburg. Most likely, you will be stuck on Airport Road for a while. After 6.00pm, traffic clears up.

To get to Marigot from Simpson Bay, the Maho area and Cupecoy, use the pleasant road through the Lowlands. It might be a mile or two longer, but you'll arrive half an hour earlier.
Do your Philipsburg shopping in the morning and you will avoid the traffic build up during the afternoon hours.
- posted by Jan @ 5:59 PM