Prepare for Ballito roadworks over Christmas
Going nowhere slowly.
Severe traffic congestion in the Ballito CBD caused by the upgrade of Ballito Drive has more than a few motorists hot under the collar.
To add fuel to the fire, the traffic circle at the top end of the M4 was reduced to a single lane before being turned into a temporary four way stop, leading to great confusion in a town that is not used to four way stops.
No matter which direction you try to get into, out of or through Ballito, you are bound to get stuck in a congested single lane road.
The unfinished state of the roads coupled with the imminent annual great invasion of Gauteng holiday makers into Ballito, spells festive disaster.
SMEC’s David Duke said the completion of the Ballito Drive upgrade to a six lane road was initially scheduled for end November, before the onset of the festive season. But due to weather and other construction delays that goal post had to be moved to January or February 2015.
“Weather permitting, our goal is to have two lanes open in each direction by the December builders break,” said Duke.
Pointsmen
Pressure from the public necessitated mitigating action. Duke said on Friday, October 24, that KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) indicated they did not have the manpower to put pointsmen in place and since his own workers are not trained for the job, various alternative solutions had to be considered.
He said it was decided at a meeting with local business owners on Friday afternoon to appoint points-men to help ease congestion. Bruce Rencken of the Lifestyle Centre apparently offered to foot the bill for this week’s pointsmen while the situation is being monitored to see if it helps to alleviate congestion.
Traffic police
Duke said they are also working on opening a dedicated right turn lane into Douglas Crowe road some time this week and additional small changes to the M4.
This Tuesday morning KDM communications manager Sifiso Zulu said they did in fact have the manpower and have deployed traffic police to regulate peak hour traffic at KDM’s expense.
