Re-opened road brings new buzz to Margate

If it wasn’t for the ‘movers and shakers’ of the South Coast community pulling together to fix the R620 in Margate, this important stretch of road would more than likely not have re-opened to motorists last Thursday.

The April floods caused massive damage to one of the busiest roads in Margate.

A second storm, about a month later, ripped open a large section of the road which had caved-in during the first storm, exposing pipes and raw sewage.

The R620 is the main road that runs through the heart of the town towards Margate police station and shopping centre.

The road closure meant motorists had to make a frustrating detour along Marine Drive to get to their destination.

This caused further impact and put a financial strain on businesses in and around town.

Concerned about the situation and implications it would have on Margate, the business community rallied behind Tidy Towns Shelly to Margate, and decided to put their hands in their pockets and get the road repaired.

“We decided to come together as nothing was being done to get the road fixed. Businesses were suffering, and no trade was taking place, as it was the ‘out-of-mind’ scenario,” said Jason Howard-Tripp of Margate Engineering.

Howard-Tripp said this was not a small project like fixing potholes, but a mammoth job which entailed an entire team of professionals.

Within three weeks, assistance from private companies such as Mzanzi Civils, Margate Engineering, Margate Construction, Build it Margate, Comfort Cool, Natal Portland Cement, Shereni Consulting Engineers with vital input from Dave Higson got the road repaired and reopened.

Over a short period, the dynamic Tidy Towns team has made an impressive improvement to many suburbs such as Margate, Uvongo and St Mike’s. It is spreading its wings to Southport, Port Shepstone and even Pennington.

Businessman Stephen Herbst said since starting Tidy Towns in Margate in February, it has already tackled and cleaned-up the town, not only of dirt and grime, but removed the drug peddlers, with the help of police.

“We have received messages from residents thanking us! They were ready to pack-up and leave the South Coast but changed their minds (and are now staying) after seeing how Tidy Towns has positively changed the face of the coast. The improvements and change are visible and we only have our community to thank,” said Herbst.

The next big project on the to-do-list is the Tidy Towns South African Masters Surfing Championships at St Mike’s Beach from August 6 – 9.

It’s going to be a biggie for the South Coast, so be sure to head down to the beach and support this event.

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