ICYMI: Douglasdale residents concerned about problematic intersection

Douglasdale residents have raised concerns about constant car accidents and traffic jams at the intersection of Douglas Drive and Alexander Avenue during peak hours.

Stephen Duley, one of the concerned residents who uses the intersection almost every day, said motorists find it difficult to turn into Douglas Drive from Alexander Avenue and as a result, collisions take place.

“We have two extremely unsafe intersections which we desperately need the City of Johannesburg to correct as soon as possible. The T-junction of Alexander Avenue with Douglas Drive is very unsafe as cars are speeding from both directions to that intersection, making it almost impossible to turn from Alexander Road into Douglas,” he said.

“The second one is Leslie Avenue and Westway Road four-way stop. If a camera is set up there, one will find 90 per cent of the vehicles do not stop at all. In fact, some go through the stop street at normal speeds. Again, a major accident is waiting to happen.”

Duley suggested that the City of Johannesburg create a traffic circle instead of a T-junction, “The simple solution is to add a proper circle, which firstly drops the speed for everyone and allows a simple process of allowing cars into the circle for turning.”

Ward 115 councillor Matome Mafokwane said the concerned residents can sign a petition and take it to the City manager to express their concerns regarding the intersections.

“The office of the City manager will then send a team of engineers to see if it’s feasible to have a circle instead of a T-junction at the intersection.”

Spokesperson for the Johannesburg Roads Agency Mosa Makhalima said, “The JRA will undertake the required counts to test the warrants for a traffic circle, including if there is available road reserve should it be warranted.

“If the road reserve is not sufficient, JRA will not able to support the proposal.”