City to take over M4 maintenance
The City is now responsible for grass cutting and bush clearing of the M1, M4, M7, M13, M19 and M41 to name a few.
FOR more than a year, residents and local councillors have waited for the provincial roads department to cut back the bush on the M4. Concerns have been mounting over the safety of the encroaching vegetation onto the asphalt and for the branches hanging over the road between the La Lucia off-ramp and uMhlanga on-ramps.
Another long-standing concern was the absence of space on the side of the lanes for cars to pull over into in the event of an emergency. While the thick vegetation is yet to be cut back, there has been a positive development after it was announced the City would be taking over the maintenance of all the M designated roads in eThekwini.
The move has been welcomed by uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer.
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“I’ve received numerous complaints from residents about this stretch of road. The M4 was unique in that most of it was the City’s responsibility except the stretch between La Lucia and uMhlanga where the vegetation is at its worst. Now the City have reached a memorandum of agreement between the roads department and the parks department. The City is now responsible for grass cutting and bush clearing of the M1, M4, M7, M13, M19 and M41 to name a few. It’s a positive development and I hope this will put an end to the dangerous stretch on the freeway,” he said.
Another resident, Gavin Ward, who is a regular user of the Ruth First Highway said the development was a positive one.
“I’ve heard rumours that the provincial roads department is cash-strapped which has prevented them from carrying out work on the freeway. For me, as a regular user and local resident I think it’s a positive move. Perhaps now we’ll be able to see some action. The yellow lane between La Lucia and uMhlanga is almost invisible and the bush extends so far that it clips people’s wing mirrors. I’m looking forward to positive engagement from the City to cut back the bush,” he said.
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