Residents of suburbs bordering Louis Botha Avenue, under large-scale Rea Vaya construction, can rest assured that their concerns are taken seriously by contractors and agency officials, according to Ward 73 councillor Marcelle Ravid.
Ravid enquired into traffic conditions surrounding the development after locals expressed their concern at the congested and frequently chaotic situation prevailing along this arterial route.
“They could do a lot more to make this process easier,” commented Bramley resident Markie Sussman, who says he is appreciative of the progress represented by the Rea Vaya development, but concerned at apparent inattention to the roadworks’ effect on pedestrians and drivers.
Inoperative street and traffic lights result in drivers ignoring intersections and driving with their brights on, suggested Sussman, adding that improvements to traffic control, road closures and route diversions, and safety information are desperately needed.
In a letter to the North Eastern Tribune, meanwhile, Geoffrey Mansell, whose office is located off Louis Botha Avenue, suggests that the traffic disruption caused by the barricading of lanes on either side of the central divide is bound to continue once construction is complete.
“I am not aware that there was any traffic survey or environmental impact study performed prior to the commencement of the works, and I am not aware that there was any consultation with residents or with users of Louis Botha Avenue,” Mansell added.
According to Ravid, however, Johannesburg Development Agency officials, who visited the site on 22 October, have said a large-scale traffic impact assessment is currently underway to mitigate traffic disruption and safety issues. The assessment will include Hope Road, Mountain View, which is not only a busy thoroughfare for motorists avoiding congestion, but frequently sees taxis travelling the wrong way down the one-way street.
A Metro police intervention took place on 22 October to catch and deter traffic offenders, and field observations along Louis Botha Avenue will be ongoing, said Ravid.
Residents can hope for some alleviation of their traffic woes as the development enters its second phase.
