Delays expected with URD resurfacing

UMHLANGA ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, has warned residents that there will be delays as the resurfacing of Umhlanga Rocks Drive (URD) gets underway on Tuesday evening. Part of the resurfacing will be carried out just after peak-hour traffic for three evenings, and will continue for the next month during the day, beginning at the intersection of Umhlanga Rocks Drive and Kenneth Kaunda (Northway) and extending as far as Sandra Place.

“It’s a section of 600 metres and I’m urging residents to factor in delays of up to 20 minutes in their travel times. I think the first few nights will be less of a hassle, but as the resurfacing work begins during the day, it’s going to be an absolute nightmare. I still feel Umhlanga Rocks Drive doesn’t need resurfacing and there are other roads in the area that are in a much worse-off condition.

Once work is completed on the busy road resurfacing will continue on Armstrong Avenue.

“It does not take an engineer to realise that a road is failing badly. We have a divide between engineers and what the communities want and need. Choosing to resurface probably two of the busiest roads in the area will cause major traffic congestion, particularly in peak hours, which will make it horrendous,” he said.

At a human settlements and infrastructure committee meeting in February, the city took the decision to upgrade the roads in and around uMhlanga, Prestondale and Cornubia. The first of the changes will see Umhlanga Rocks Drive being upgraded to six lanes.