Umhlanga Rocks Drive overhaul still on the cards
Last month a concerned resident took to the Traffic KZN Facebook timeline claiming that there had been an escalation in the number of accidents in that area.
THE congestion at Umhlanga Ridge Town Centre (URTC) between the four-way circle and the M41 robots along Umhlanga Rocks Drive should soon be a thing of the past. That’s according to local councillor, Heniz De Boer who said plans were afoot the curb the growing numbers of accidents taking place.
Last month a concerned resident took to the Traffic KZN Facebook timeline claiming that there had been an escalation in the number of accidents in that area.
“I wonder when something is going to be done about the chaos that occurs daily between this circle and the M41 robots along Umhlanga Rocks Drive,” he wrote.
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“There were plans to upgrade that whole section leading from the M41 robots, past the Umhlanga Hospital on to Herwood Drive. The section between McDonalds and the Herwood circle will be upgraded to six lanes and Herwood Drive will get one extra lane,” said De Boer.
He added that traffic lights have also been proposed to replace the circle.
“I do agree that it’s long overdue. Over the past five years the town planning authorisations have gone on to increase developments in that area but nothing has been done to the roads,” he said.
The plans De Boer referred to were outlined by a human settlements and infrastructure committee meeting of City officials in 2016.
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He went on to say that he had spoken to the Ethekwini Transport Authority urging them to widen the revamp beyond the roads mentioned above.
“We can’t just upgrade that section. We have to look at the other roads leading away from that main road because development is continuing in that area. I’m hoping that within the next two years we’ll start seeing some work being done,” said de Boer. The eThekwini Municipality’s deputy head of communications, Mandla Nsele confirmed that the upgrade has been scheduled.”
The time frame for implementation of the upgrade is related to the extent of development land use bulk and is unknown at this stage. Traffic Road Layout Design plans for the upgrade have been completed. The eThekwini Municipality is currently reviewing the timing for implementation and extent of the upgrading in light of the current proposal for a bus rapid transport system to be implemented along this section of Umhlanga Rocks Drive,” said Nsele.
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