Stopping for safety
The installation of a new four-way stop brings relief to residents and school pupils in Westdene.
Parents, teachers at Orban Private School and members of the community can breathe a sigh of relief with the instalment of four-way stop signs at Ayr Road and Winchester Street in Westdene.
Publicist at Buz Publicity Bridget van Oerle said she dealt with the Johannesburg Roads Agency for 19 months, sending emails relentlessly until a representative was eventually sent to the site.
“Two weeks later, the JRA has their contractors painting the road markings. Afterwards, a fully-functioning four-way stop was installed at the problematic intersection”, said Van Oerle.
Orban’s principal Liz van Tonder was also very happy with the recent installation of the four-way stop.
“The school is ecstatic with gratitude. It is such a relief for the school to know that the busy intersection is now regulated and safer for pupils to cross,” she said.
The intersection has proven to be quite problematic for residents and commuters who frequent these roads every day.
“The yield sign that was previously there wasn’t very effective. We have had a lot of bad instances where vehicles speed past without taking into account the safety of the pupils or pedestrians crossing the road. The traffic at that intersection used to be a nightmare during the mornings and late afternoon. Parents used to struggle to leave the school every day, at least now it is regulated and safer. Sometimes our pupils make use of the UJ netball fields for sporting activities, and have to cross the intersection; with the new four-way stop, our teachers can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they can safely [accompany] our pupils [to the fields],” Van Tonder said.
Ward 69 Councillor Katja Naumann was also very thankful for the community and the JRA’s involvement in this installation. “Thank you, JRA, for responding to this issue. I hope the traffic study for Westdene will soon follow,” she said.
The community and the school extended their gratitude to Bridget van Oerle, Vicky Shepang, Andrew Bodibe, Auriel Kabola, Ursula and Clint Hill and the JRA for their involvement in the installation of the four-way stop sign.
