DURBAN North is set for another massive development. This follows the estimated R5.5 million upgrade of the popular Japanese Gardens that was set to start this month.
The latest development, said ward councillor Shaun Ryley involved a complete overhaul of the Umhlanga Rocks Drive and Kenneth Kaunda Road intersection (at the Civic Park, more popularly known as Whynotte Park).
According to plans shown to the paper, the intersection will be shifted to the southern tip of the park, incorporating Beachway into the intersection.
EThekwini Municipality’s Acting Head of Communications, Mandla Nsele, confirmed that the intersection will be upgraded with additional through and turning lanes, and would “extend into a portion of the open space”.
It is estimated to cost nearly R17 million and will take around three years to complete.
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The planning phase of the project will be conducted during the 2018/2019 financial year (which starts in July 2018). It will incorporate the Environmental Impact Assessment and consultation with interested and affected parties. This would cost an estimated R250 000.
The construction phase is expected to commence in the 2020/2021 financial year, which will cost R16.25 million alone. The construction is expected to be completed in three months.
Ryley said this was yet another project that he was thrilled to see approved.
“It has been a long time coming. For years we have raised the need for an upgrade as we have noted an increase in congestion at the intersection,” he said.
“I welcome the development, and hope that it will ease the congestion and make the residents’ commute easier,” he added.
Nsele echoed the councillor’s comment saying the upgrade was prompted by a need to increase the intersection’s traffic capacity.
“The City noted the congestion at the intersection, and hence the upgrade,” he said.
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