Eteza Traffic Control Centre launched
Government commits to invest in rail,roads and public transport
TRANSPORT Minister Joe Maswanganyi has reiterated the government’s commitment to invest in rail, roads and public transport, saying this will change the way people accesstheir places of work, study and entertainment.
He was addressing a community Imbizo on Tuesday at Amangwe Sports Field in KwaMbonambi, following the launch of Eteza Traffic Control Centre and KwaBhoboza Interchange, which were constructed by South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) at a tune of close to R500-million.
The project created 164 jobs for local communities.
Maswangayi said the transport sector was at the heart of the country’s development.
‘It is my duty to ensure that South Africans have safe, reliable, affordable and convenient public transport.
‘We are here to improve road infrastructure, which has a potential to bring about a quantifiable reduction in fatalities.’
Accompanied by the mayors of Umkhanyakude, King Cetshwayo and uMfolozi Local Municipality, Maswanganyi said the Eteza Traffic Control Centre would curb extensive overloading of trucks which has resulted in a marked deterioration in the condition of the province’s road network.
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‘Damage to roads as a result of overloading leads to higher maintenance and repair costs and shortens the life of a good road.
‘This in turn, places an additional burden on the state as well as law-abiding road users who ultimately carry the costs of careless and inconsiderate overloading.
‘In this project we are launching today here at Eteza, heavy vehicles of more than five tons gross mass are weighed.
‘Drivers of heavy vehicles will be issued a fine if the vehicle exceeds the permissible mass on gross mass.
‘In addition, taxi lay byes and pedestrian facilities were provided within the interchange precinct.
‘A new pedestrian fence on the road reserve within KwaMsane community was also installed.
‘The overload control facility is also used to inspect the roadworthiness of vehicles on a 24-hour basis.
‘This is indicative of what we mean by saying, together we move South Africa forward, incorporating scores of events in villages, towns and cities, resulted in greater understanding of the critical role that transport plays in the lives of our people,’ he said.
The Minister said the existing intersection at KwaBhoboza was very busy and the high speed of the vehicles travelling on the N2 made the crossing extremely dangerous, not only for motorists, but also for pedestrians.
The launch of the Eteza Traffic Control Centre and KwaBhoboza Interchange coincided with the drawing to a close of October Transport Month, during which the Department of Transport advanced the country’s initiatives whilst also creating awareness of the economic benefits of the sector.
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