Louis Botha Avenue’s drivers seek answers about suspect barrier

Some motorists are complaining about a concrete barrier that has been placed in the middle of the road on Orange Grove near the U-Save store along Louis Botha Avenue saying it is totally unnecessary.

According to the motorists, the barrier is causing traffic jams and claimed it blocked one-and-a-half lanes. This is one of the busiest intersections with cars coming from the direction of Glenhazel, Fairmount and Sydenham leading to various locations including the Norwood CBD.

According to one motorist who contacted North Eastern Tribune following the front page article Rapid Transit too slow [Week Ending 28 February], the barrier is causing mayhem.

“I’ve tried to contact the local councillor, the City of Johannesburg including its entity Joburg Roads Agency and the Department of Transport, and they all say they will come back to me,” said a motorist who did not wish his named to be published.

“This barrier causes a lot of problems for us and the motorists driving along Louis Botha Avenue. I honestly see it as unnecessary and we would like to know why it is there and what its purpose is because it is just blocking the road.”

Ward 73 councillor, Eleanor Huggett, confirmed that she had been made aware of the barrier and had escalated the matter to the relevant authorities.

She requested Tribune to contact her colleague Ward 72 councillor Lionel Greenberg about the matter. “I know councillor Greenberg has been dealing with it and we had a chat about it about a week ago and has told me that he is struggling with JDA [Johannesburg Development Agency] who are responsible for the project which includes the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit,” she said.

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Greenberg told Tribune that this had been one of the most difficult issues he had been dealing with over the months if not a year.

“I dealt with it and continue to do so but no one including JDA, who are responsible for the Rea Vaya project, no one at all wants to take responsibility for this barrier.”

Soni Manqoba, executive manager for development implementation at JDA, said the barrier had been placed there to protect the recently completed BRT station nearby.

“It was placed there to protect the structure until we do the handover to the client,” he said.

The client is the City of Johannesburg and according to an article published in Tribune, it is anticipated that the project would be completed in March 2021.

Details: www.jda.org.za

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