Old North Coast Road closure causes mayhem

MOTORISTS travelling along Old North Coast Road on Thursday morning were staggered when they learnt that a portion of the road, from Fortrose Avenue to Cochrane Road, has been closed for upgrading.

This caused chaos when taxis, delivery vehicles, staff and motorists could not access the road. In the meantime, the Glen Anil Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association has intervened in an attempt to establish a detour strategy for motorists and pedestrian access.

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Speaking to Northglen News about the road closure, vice-chairperson for the Glen Hills Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association, Carol Mc Ewan, said she had learnt about the closure only days before it was scheduled to happen.

Notice of road closure

“I happened to stumble across the notice on social media and thought, well, this is going to cause problems as Old North Coast Road is a busy road for public transport, businesses’ supply chain deliveries and motorists at large. I contacted the person in charge from details on the poster and met with him. Thereafter, I started spreading the word about the road closure,” she said.

Mc Ewan said she and the official met on sight where he explained what the road upgrade entails. It would incorporate widening the road to four lanes and would take about 10 months with the expected completion date somewhere in September.

“After meeting with the official, residents raised pertinent points and formalised their concerns,” she said.

Among the concerns raised were that metro police be present for the first week of the closure, for the eThekwini Municipality to erect more signage about the road closure in the area, for physical barriers to prevent unnecessary vehicles on certain routes, for the main contractor to supply metro police with traffic management aids, and for a pedestrian route to allow access from Chris Hani Road to JT Ross.

“I have been in communication with businesses whose supply chain is affected by this closure as they were not given enough time to make arrangements to communicate this with their suppliers. Nobody knew what was going on when they arrived at Old North Coast Road on Thursday morning. It was chaos,” said Mc Ewan.

“The closure of such a busy road should have been communicated well in advance with all affected parties, and a contingency plan should have been put in place. Now it’s left to the ratepayers’ association to make everyone aware of what is happening,” she added.

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Mc Ewan added that in the meantime, trucks, taxis and motorists are using residential roads as a thoroughfare to get to their destinations which has caused a commotion as residents find it difficult to exit their properties in the morning.

“The residential roads have weight restrictions and are not meant for heavy motor vehicles. This will damage the roads. One truck took out half a tree in Harrison Drive trying to make its way through. There is a school on Harrison Drive, and the heavy vehicles and taxis are driving contraflow and speeding. When asked to slow down, it is ignored. It is disappointing and frustrating to the residents and motorists that there was no strategy when the go-ahead was given for this road closure,” she said.

No formal notice

Ward 110 councillor Aamir Abdul said he was aware of the upgrade to Old North Coast Road and that it had been scheduled, but he did not receive a formal notice.

“I was aware that the road will be upgraded but not at this time as many meetings with the stakeholders have been postponed, therefore, I could not notify residents. No official notification was sent to me,” said Abdul.

He added that development typically leads to increased population and economic activity, resulting in more vehicles using the roads and that upgrades are necessary to accommodate this increased traffic flow and to prevent congestion.

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“With more vehicles on the road, safety becomes a concern. Upgrades may include wider lanes, improved signage and traffic control measures to enhance safety for all road users. Existing roads may not be able to handle the increased demand from new developments. Upgrades may involve expanding or adding lanes, constructing new intersections, or improving road surfaces to increase capacity. Improved roads contribute to a better quality of life for residents by reducing travel times, enhancing connectivity and providing smoother and safer journeys,” he said.

“Upgraded roads can improve accessibility to new developments, making them more attractive for businesses, residents, and visitors. This can spur further economic growth and development in the area. Improved roads contribute to a better quality of life for residents by reducing travel times, enhancing connectivity, and providing smoother and safer journeys,” said Abdul.

He added that overall, road upgrades are essential to support and sustain development in an area, ensuring that infrastructure keeps pace with growth and meets the needs of the community.

The City did not comment at the time of publishing.

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