Following concerns raised by residents of Carriage Gate complex about the lack of signage, lighting and overall safety of the Riley Road traffic circle, the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) informed the NEWS it plans to erect signage, road markings and construct another two circles along the road.
Residents of the complex approached the NEWS to raise their concerns after numerous collisions occurred around the circle after the project was completed.
Overall, the traffic circle took six months to be constructed.
CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini explained the circle was constructed after motorists from business developments along Riley Road experienced substantial delays joining the major traffic stream along the road due to insufficient gaps.
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Dlamini said the insufficient gaps in traffic was caused by speeding motorists and high volumes of traffic along the road.
Before the traffic circle was constructed, CoE considered three traffic-calming measures: speed humps, traffic signals and traffic circles at the access points of the three office parks.
Dlamini said because Riley Road is a class three road (mobility) speed humps were not warranted.
He said traffic signals were not warranted either as traffic signals granting access to private developments are only considered in exceptional cases.
Dlamini said the city decided to implement traffic circles as they provided a traffic-calming effect along Riley Road and access intersection control.
“Service providers were appointed for further investigations and it was concluded that the traffic circles would be the optimum solution,” said Dlamini.
“A public engagement was conducted through the ward councillor to present these findings, where no objections were raised, hence the implementation of the project.”
Dlamini said two additional traffic circles will be constructed in the future.
One will be constructed at the intersection of Riley Road and Dittberner Drive, while the other will be constructed near the CIA Building on Riley Road.
Although the NEWS asked in its enquiry how many vehicle collisions the city was aware of occurring at the traffic circle, Dlamini said the city’s Department of Roads and Stormwater was not aware of the number.
In response to the concerns of residents from Dlamini said warning signs and road marking to comply with the approved design of the traffic circle will be implemented.
“Trees and the cutting thereof must be applied to and authorised by the environmental division under the parks department,” said Dlamini.
He said all the rubble generated during the construction process will be removed upon completion
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