Traffic congestion nightmare
NORTHRIDING - Congestion is the order of the day.
Residents are dismayed by the traffic congestion on secondary roads in Randpark Ridge and surrounding areas.
Northriding resident, Paul Manson said that the road from his house to work which used to take him 30 minutes is now taking another 25 minutes more, because of traffic congestion. Ward 115 councillor Chris Santana said that assessing the impact of the toll roads, over the past six months, indicated that there has been an impact on secondary roads, which results in congestion. “There is a need for a scientific approach to this matter as public transport routes are not upgraded. Motorists especially taxis, use any roads with no double lanes to overtake cars facing oncoming traffic, putting people’s lives in danger,” explained Santana.
It seems toll roads have indirectly increased traffic congestion and transport official need to re-look the current situation. According to Santana, “we need a plan for Malibongwe Drive and the MEC [for] Public Transport needs to give a current plan. I understand future plans for the roads are underway but for now it is a nightmare especially when traffic lights are out of order”. At Randpark Ridge, in Sundowner, traffic lights have been out of order for the whole of March at the corner of Beyers Naude Drive and CR Swart and corner of Beyers Naude and Northumberland Avenue.
Responding to the queries about traffic lights that are out of order the Johannesburg Roads Agency’s Marketing and Communications Manager, Bertha Peters-Scheepers said “Unfortunately the traffic lights issue at both intersections was due to power failures. We have followed up with the supplier on a regular basis and finally power was restored on 24 March”.
Peters-Scheepers added that with regards to traffic congestion on these roads, at this stage the roads agency and other key stakeholders have commissioned a study to determine the state of congestion on the city’s roads including whether the e-tolls have had any impact. “This is a six month study and is currently being undertaken,” she added.
Details: Bertha Peters-Scheepers Manager Marketing and Communications Johannesburg Roads Agency, (011) 298 5023/079510 4186.
