Leslie Avenue East gets a facelift
MAGALIESSIG - The upgrade of Leslie Avenue East has created the perception that the proposed Makro store in Magaliessig has been approved, but this is not the case.
It is a project of the Design Quarter to make the road more accessible. A hearing will be held on 26 and 27 September for the application to develop a township to build a Makro store. The outcome of this hearing can still be appealed.
Property manager for the Design Quarter Waldo Marcus said, “The project has been undertaken to ensure better flow of traffic for shoppers and residents using the road. The upgrade will improve the condition of the road which has been neglected, and ensure the safety of pedestrians.”
The project has been funded by Design Quarter and the estimated completion date is 15 December.
The section of Leslie Avenue East from William Nicol Drive to Petroy Avenue will be upgraded to double lanes with two slipway roads and a 2m-wide pedestrian walkway.
According to Ward 106 councillor Stephen Moore, the upgrade was approved a while ago. “The road widening is intended to assist with traffic coming out of Magaliessig past the Design Quarter.
“It will be useful to residents now and in the long term when there is more densification in the suburb. An unintended consequence is that motorists who drive along Magaliessig’s back-routes to avoid traffic on the surrounding main roads will also benefit,” Moore said.
Chairman of the Magaliessig Action Forum Mary Hanna said the upgraded road would help the residents on Troupant Avenue to access William Nicol Drive more easily.
Both Hanna and Moore said the upgrade was logical as a road reserve was demarcated several years ago through the suburb for Leslie Avenue East to join up with Merrow Lane and into Witkoppen Road.
Hanna said, “We welcome the new road so long as it remains a suburban road for residential traffic. It was never intended to be used by trucks servicing Makro or similar major commercial developments.”
The forum strongly opposes the Makro development.
Moore said, “Even if the Makro development is stopped, the Leslie Avenue connection is still on the cards. The difference is that other developments in the suburb will not result in massive trucks and increased traffic moving through the residential area that Makro would create.”
