According to Willy Thompson, a tow truck driver in the area, the road is a death trap and the number of accidents month-on-month are shocking adding that it would become worse as we approach the festive season.
The infamous provincial route which sees thousands of people commuting on it to various towns is known for frequent accidents.
Thompson said the road was one of the biggest routes in the area, there are many challenges.
“There are several villages namely Burgersdorp, Bridgeway, Khujwana, Mhlaba Cross, Maake Plaza, Lenyenye, Bonn, Mafarana, Dan village, Nkowankowa and Mokgolobotho using the route to go to and from Tzaneen and even beyond to Polokwane, which in itself is a problem due to the high traffic volumes.”
“When coming from Lenyenye a three-way stop and speed humps are needed, so motorists can decrease speed and be more vigilant. In Lenyenye we need the same.
It would cause traffic but would help in reducing the accidents that occur there almost on a weekly basis.
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The road also needs to be widened up to have more room for manoeuvring.
This road goes until Lydenburg road and is important which needs urgent attention.”
Speaking to Herald, motorist Tshepo Nkuna said the road was in a bad condition and neglected compared to the number of vehicles using it, especially during month-end as many of the villages and surrounding townships would be moving back and forth for different reasons and that was when most accidents occur.
Nkuna said more traffic officials had to be stationed on the road to act as a speed deterrent as speeding was also a problem on the narrow road during peak hours coupled with reckless behaviour from some motorists who disobey road rules.
He added that traffic congestion was brought on by the narrowness of the road and that it got worse on weekends and holidays.
Another motorist Lincoln Blessie’s gripes included the lack of visible markings which made driving on the road which he described as very uneven and narrow more difficult and a high risk for accidents.
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Sanral Northern Region’s operation and maintenance manager Madoda Mthembu told the Herald that routine road maintenance was currently underway for the road, and there was a planned upgrade project which was currently at a design stage.
“The current and exact routine road maintenance activities taking place include pothole repairs, drainage maintenance, fencing, grass cutting, damaged signs repairs and road marking.”
Mthembu said the contract duration for the routine maintenance activities was 36 months. Regarding the planned upgrade project which was currently at the design stage, the scope for the upgrade project comprises the rehabilitation of the existing road layers, dualling of the road which means two lanes in each direction, widening of bridges and culverts, construction of intersection including traffic circles, pedestrian sidewalks, road signs and markings.
