Laurie Road circle complete
"It is a project of quality," said MMC Mhlari.
Construction of the Laurie Road traffic circle has been completed and the long-awaited traffic circle was officially opened to the public on April 19.
Plans for the circle were put in place to allow for better access and traffic flow, to prevent road users from speeding and to reduce accidents along the road.
The project was started in 2013.
Councillors within the area and EMM road planning conducted surveys to determine the need for the circle.
Mr Anthony Mulder, the MC for the opening of the intersection, said it was a difficult project that included the relocation of services as well as traffic.
“The circle will hopefully have economic, safety and community benefits,” said Mr Mulder.
“In the whole of Ekurhuleni, Edenvale has the longest combined distance of all its roads. The department has invested a lot in this area and is proud with what it has invested.”
The ward 19 councillor, Clr Bill Rundle, spoke on behalf of the ward 18 councillor, Clr Heather Hart.
According to Clr Rundle, the residents are grateful.
“It is magnificent and an example of what can be achieved,” said Clr Rundle.
He went on to say that Edenvale was the jewel of the east.
“The project is done and dusted; we have to take the lessons and use them for improvement.”
The head of department for Roads and Stormwater, Mr Sizwe Cele, said there were some challenges that affected the construction of the circle.
Some of the challenges faced included the relocation of Telkom cables, the levelling of streets and the reinforcing of the circle to ensure that it can support the weight of trucks.
Ekurhuleni’s MMC of Roads and Transport, MMC Petrus Mhlari, said the goal of the department is to resolve all road-related issues.
“Roads play an important part in society. The department aims to talk less and do more, while listening to the interests of the people,” he said.
“There were glitches but the project is now complete. Although the project was small, it employed a number of people. It is a project of quality,” said MMC Mhlari.
