Truck stop on blind spot
Approved truck stop on the R24 a worry for local councillor Amanda de Lange.
Authorities added another nail to Tarlton’s coffin when Mogale City Municipality approved a truck stop on the R24 to Magaliesurg. The R24 forms part of the Crocodile Ramble route that leads to many tourist attractions on the West Rand.
“They added insult to injury when provincial offices approved the exit and entrance of the truck stop at a blind turn on this extremely busy and dangerous road”, said Amanda de Lange, Freedom Front Plus West Rand regional leader and councillor .
For almost 10 years she and the community have been fighting a losing battle with Gautrans and Mogale City to attend urgently to the dangers commuters are facing on the so-called ‘road of death’ and other Tarlton roads.
The death toll on these roads is shocking and many of the victims are local residents who have lost their lives due to speeding trucks and commuters passing through.
“The trucks will enter the premises via the servitude road that leads to one of the most valuable and renowned attractions of Krugersdorp, which is the Tarlton Raceway. This is a disaster waiting to happen when cars form three queues waiting to enter for the big events, and block the exit from and entrance to the truck stop. There will be nowhere for the trucks to line up or enter or exit the premises.”
This could result in heavy traffic backing up into the R24, especially on the blind turn.
It has come to Amanda’s attention that the pleas of people living as close as 100 metres from the intended truck to deny the application were disregarded by Mogale City Local Economic Development officials as well.
“It is going to be a permanent nightmare for these residents as the main users of this truck stop arrive late at night from the Botswana border or have to leave for the border very early in the morning.”
This road is also used by pupils of the Kwaggasrand Primary School close by, as well as the youngsters who are transported by bus to the schools in Magaliesburg.
Another worry is the unsavoury characters and prostitution that usually are associated with such truck stops.
“The possibility of dealing in and transporting drugs cannot be ruled out.”
Residents rightly feel that authorities do not act responsibly and also disregard their rights, safety and welfare, Amanda said.
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