Following the recent construction of a traffic circle on Riley Road, residents of the Carriage Gate complex have raised concerns after numerous vehicle collisions occurred around the circle since the project’s completion.
The circle, which is located near the entrance to Eastwood Office Park, was constructed on the road which runs parallel to the complex.
When the NEWS visited the traffic circle on October 20, several pieces of vehicles could be seen located on the pavement surrounding the circle.
Residents and trustees of Carriage Gate told the NEWS that as a result of the collisions, pieces of vehicles sometimes land in gardens of properties of the complex.
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They said the traffic circle was installed as a traffic-calming measure but has done little to alleviate the problem.
Trustee Jenni Coulson, who has lived in the area for 22 years, said since the project’s completion there have been more collisions on the road than before.
She said one collision resulted in a vehicle, which was travelling on Riley Road towards Van Buuren Road, colliding with the circle and only came to a stop at the T-Junction of Riley and Grobler roads.
Coulson said watching the footage of the complex’s security cameras, she has seen two motorists drive the wrong way around the circle.
Resident Halima Frost said following the circle’s completion, approximately two collisions occur per week around it.
She said on October 15, two collisions occurred at the traffic circle.
Frost said the collisions mainly occur at night.
Resident Gareth Griffiths said some motorists make use of Riley Road to avoid the speed humps along Van Buuren Road.
He said while doing so they speed along Riley Road.
Although the circle was constructed it has done little to deter those who drive over the speed limit on Riley Road.
Griffiths said those who break the speed limit slow down for the traffic circle and continue to drive as they were once passing through it.
Residents said so far, lampposts and trees have fallen victim to the driving of motorists and are concerned that a fatality may occur if nothing is done.
Besides raising concerns about the number of collisions and speeding motorists, Carriage Gate residents are calling for signage to be erected on either side of the circle and greater lighting around the traffic circle.
Coulson said although there are several lampposts around the circle, the light is blocked by tree growth.
She said trimming the branches of the trees would illuminate the area more.
Following the NEWS’ meeting with the Carriage Gate residents, Coulson informed the publication, on October 22, that the Bedfordview CPF had installed lights on the traffic circle and the medians leading up to it.
In addition to their safety concerns, residents said rubble and debris from the construction project were left on the pavements around the circle and outside the complex.
A request for comment was sent to the City of Ekurhuleni on October 20, requesting comment by October 22 at 13:00.
At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
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