Speed bumps installed at the hazardous Salta/M27 intersection in Umdloti last week have tapered motorists and pedestrians’ safety fears when using the intersection.
In accordance with the Environmental Authorisation and Phase 1 Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) approval, the Salta Sibaya development (formerly known as Sibaya Precinct Node 6), triggered a series of traffic upgrades that, according to email correspondence obtained by the Courier, were supposed to have been undertaken prior to occupation of Phase 1 of the development.
Phase 1 consists of the Marine Walk shopping mall and the first 796 residential units.
The anticipated traffic upgrades include expanding the M27 to double lanes in both directions between the Salta/M27 intersection and the M4, remarking the M4 bridge to two double lanes, upgrading turning lanes into and out of the M4, constructing a traffic circle where Bellamont Road forms a T-junction with Jabu Ngcobo Road, and a pedestrian walkway from the Salta/M27 intersection down to the beach.
However, with the mall celebrating a year of trade on September 30 and the number of occupied residential units approaching the 400 mark, the requisite traffic upgrades remain a mirage.
With traffic volumes steadily growing, the Courier approached property developers Devmco on September 12 enquiring about temporary traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, why the traffic upgrades had not yet commenced, and possible timelines for the traffic upgrades. A response was received eight days later, mere hours after the developer had started work on installing speed bumps.
Devmco said plans for the traffic upgrades in the surrounding vicinity had not been approved yet and referred to the role Tongaat Hulett’s business rescue process played in delaying the allocation of rights and obligations and in obtaining approvals to commence work.
“Unfortunately, with Tongaat Hulett still being in business rescue, there is no definitive date as to when these upgrades will take place. Devmco Group is actively engaging with Tongaat Hulett, the eThekwini Municipality, Department of Transport and Sanral to move the process forward.”
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