EDITOR – In the past weeks, you are aware of the accidents that have occurred on the northbound carriageway on the south side of the freeway in wet weather, however accidents also occur in good weather.
Our residence faces the south and we watch as the necessary ‘vultures’ (tow trucks) gather, waiting for an incident to happen on the southern side of the freeway.
As we drive frequently on this portion of road under all weather conditions, I have concluded there are three main issues to consider:
- The continuous, aggressive speed by drivers on this down section plus not driving according to the conditions of the road.
- The accumulation of water at the bottom of the hill where the freeway joins the bridge portion. As vehicles are not aware of this, aqua planing takes place. This is probably caused by the first point above.
- The right hand kink in the freeway, again at the join of the bridge both north and south. Many drivers, I believe, are unaware of this and continue in a straight line, crashing into the river or crash barriers.
So the three above are major areas of concern, in my opinion. The scary thing is that this section puts rescue units and the vultures in huge danger (as with any incident on the roads) but something – as with Twini Hill – needs to be done urgently.
Added to this is the civic centre road river bridge, again going north on the south side. Here, a huge puddle accumulates and, to avoid this, vehicles swerve into oncoming traffic or plough through this quite deep puddle and could easily aqua plane. A simple cut into the verge where there is no pavement, channelling the water into the river will, I believe, alleviate this as again it is an accident waiting to happen.
Your publicing these issues (not just this letter) hopefully will lead to the concerned authorities in taking a positive view and action but will they?
The authorities cry foul with such incidents but life seems to have little value.
- Fields Hill
- Twini Hill
- Doonside-Toti Hill
With many more that one could recall.
STUART MARTIN
