Load shedding causes traffic congestion
The current load shedding situation does not only leave residents in the dark for two hours at a time, but in some areas causes traffic congestion during peak hours.
POLOKWANE – The current load shedding situation does not only leave residents in the dark for two hours at a time, but in some areas causes traffic congestion during peak hours.
Motorists from Nirvana, Westenburg, Leeuwkuil small-holdings, different extensions along the Matlala road and the Seshego area complained that traffic was a nightmare at the Nelson Mandela Drive and Rissik Street intersection when load shedding took place from 06:00 until 08:00 in the B9 areas.
“Taffic piles up from the corner of Nelson Mandela Drive and Rissik Street all the way back to the entrance of Westenburg. It takes a person about 20 minutes to pass this area during load shedding,which on a normal day takes less than three minutes,” a motorist from Leeuwkuil smallholdings said.
Another motorist, from Seshego, added that traffic was congested from the corner of Nelson Mandela Drive and Rissik Street all the way to the intersection at Nelson Mandela Drive and Fluoorspar Street.
“Those of us who travel from Nirvana and Rainbow Park heading to Seshego also struggle to pass at this intersection. The traffic piles up from the corner of Nelson Mandela Drive and Rissik Street up to the intersection of Nikkel Street and Nelson Mandela Drive.
The worst part is that there are trucks using this road from the N1. I just wish the municipality could place traffic officers at the intersection of Nelson Mandela Drive and Rissik Street when load shedding takes place in the morning during peak hours because it will help with the flow of traffic,” a motorists from Rainbow Park said.
Municipal spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene, said load shedding was a necessary process aimed at stabilising the power supply, but the municipality remained committed to ensure safety on the roads.
“Our traffic law enforcement officers are on hand to ensure a safe flow of traffic.
“We urge motorists to observe all rules and traffic signs whilst exercising patience and caution at all times, and treat all intersections as four-way stops,” Chuene said.
Motorists who spoke to Review claimed there was no traffic officer to help with the flow of traffic at the intersection of Nelson Mandela Drive and Rissik Street when load shedding took place during peak hours in the morning.
“It should be noted that our traffic law enforcement scope in terms of manning the required intersections increase during load shedding and traffic law enforcement officers cannot be be allocated at all points.”
