Budget cut for widening Robert Broom
Funding was allocated by the municipality to widen a section of Robert Broom Drive, but half the money has been cut.
When Mogale City Local Municipality‘s annual budget was adjusted, R4 million of the R8,5 million allocated for the widening of Robert Broom Drive in Ward 21 was deallocated.
Ward 21 councillor Lynn Pannall said it has been a 10-year battle to have the road widened.
“Only one section of the road, which falls in Ward 21, has a single lane and this has been causing heavy congestion during peak hour traffic,” she said.
With a view to other proposed developments along Robert Broom Drive, such as the new shopping complex at the Robert Broom Drive and Van Oordt Street intersection, Lynn is concerned that traffic will become even worse.
She now hopes that the R4,5 million will be used to start the project before the end of the financial year in June, otherwise problems may arise.
“If the municipality is funding the project, the funds could roll over to the next financial year. But if it is a grant or being funded by another source, it could be more difficult,” she said.
At a recent Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and Infrastructure Portfolio meeting, it was said that a developer had offered to pay R500 000 for a slip road from Van Oordt Road towards Robert Broom Drive to help ease traffic. “But we have not seen this in writing,” she said.
Mogale City Local municipality spokesperson, Nkosana Zali, did not comment on the budget adjustment, but in the revised 2015/16 Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan the municipality committed to widening 0,9 kilometres of the road. As of December last year, the tender for the project has been closed and a consultant was appointed.
Also read:
• More traffic for Robert Broom?
• Feedback following Robert Broom petition
• Motorists hoot in support of Broom widening
