Trucks cause havoc on Surprise Road

TRUCKS have taken over Surprise Road in Pinetown as dozens of the metal behemoths utilise both sides of the road as pit stops.

Local businessman and CEO of Naked Feet Leather Footwear, Allan Beckley, described the situation as a potential danger.

“I have been in business here for the past nine years and, for the last two, the warehouses have grown and so has the traffic flowing into them. The trucks park on either side of the road, and one car can fit on the road. You can’t use the road as it was intended and there is sure to be an accident one of these days,” he said.

Referring to a recent incident, Beckley said a truck broke down and motorists had to wait for about 30 minutes to allow for traffic flow to resume.

“They (the trucks) have absolutely destroyed the sidewalks and stormwater covers,” said Beckley.

The Democratic Alliance PR councillor for wards 13 and 15, Marlaine Nair, said she was aware of the problem and that the trucks parked along the verge and road were delivering goods to a nearby warehouse.

“There is insufficient space in the warehouse yard to accommodate all the trucks at the same time.”

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“Metro Police have informed me that these trucks have also been damaging the road. It appears that these trucks were supposed to be parked at the truckstop in Westmead and then come to offload deliveries one at a time, so as not to cause congestion. However, truck drivers have not been abiding by this arrangement.

“Metro Police have issued several spot fines, but this has not made any difference. I will be meeting with the management of the warehouses to discuss a way forward,” concluded Nair.

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