POLOKWANE – Motorists are relieved that the roadworks in Hospital Street and Potgieter Avenue are complete.
These roads were opened just before the Easter weekend.
Motorists had to use a detour to get to their destinations as Potgieter Avenue and Hospital Street were one-way streets during the roadworks.
This caused a lot of frustration and anger among motorists, because they claimed that the roadworks, especially in Hospital Street, caused traffic congestion during peak hours.
“The roadworks in Hospital Street started at the corner of Hospital and Landdros Maré Street and ended at the corner of Hospital and Dorp Street. At the corner of Landdros Maré and Hospital Street there was a delay in the flow of traffic causing traffic congestion at the corner of Market and Hospital Street, but now that Hospital Street is a two-way street, motorists can breath again, because there is no longer a traffic jam at the intersection during peak hours,” a motorist explained.
Mantlako Sebaka, spokesperson for the municipal transport services, said the roads were re-surfaced just before the Easter weekend, but the road markings and cleaning still had to be done within the next two weeks.
“The intersection of Landdros Maré is still going to be upgraded for non-motorised transport facilities, which include a walkway and cycle lane. There is also a bus stop outstanding. These upgrades will be done later within the next financial year, which is starting in July,” Sebaka said.
He added that the works were not yet programmed, but were anticipated towards the end of August. “The budget is not yet confirmed,” Sebaka said.
Even though the roadworks in Potgieter Avenue and Hospital Street are done, the roadworks in Webster Street and parts of Nirvana continue.
“These roadworks are scheduled to finish at the end of June, however not all works will be completed due to budgetary alignments. It will, however, continue in the next phase after July,” Sebaka said.
