BELEAGUERED Zululand pothole dodgers will have two new main roads by September this year.
At the same time as the John Ross Parkway is completed, so will the R619 (North Central Arterial) linking Richards Bay to the N2 past Brackenham.
City of uMhlathuze Head of Transport, Roads and Coastal Development, Jogie Naidoo told the Zululand Observer, on Monday, that the R16.5-million road upgrade will begin on 12 May and should be completed within four months.
Plans of the major rehabilitation of the section of the R619, between the Richards Bay Cemetery and Bullion Boulevard, has been confirmed. The tender has been awarded and the process is in the objection period.
‘The City of uMhlathuze Municipality is well aware of the condition of the stretch of road and action has been taken to fix the 2km long stretch that falls under the municipality.
‘However, the stretch from the cemetery towards the N2 falls under the Department of Transport and it is responsible for the maintenance of that section.
The Department of Transport has reportedly planned for the construction of the remainder of the road from the cemetery to the eNseleni Junction on the N2, subject to budget approval.
Residents should be relieved by the news as over the past months, the Zululand Observer has been inundated with calls and letters of complaint from motorists that travel the road every day.
One panel beating company owner said he received up to 50 customers needing tyre/rim repairs a month and motorists that brought their cars in complained that it was the potholes on that specific road that caused the damage.
‘Heavy haulage trucks and the high volume of traffic travelling in and out of the town have caused excessive damage and the road is in an appalling state. We are glad that the city now has the funds to fix up the road’ said Ward 26 Councillor AS Dawood.
Residents can expect heavy construction in the area and contractors will work through the night to repair the road as traffic flow should be minimal during these hours.
Use alternate routes where possible and drive cautiously near the Veldenvlei and Brackenham robots.
Finally some relief. They also need to add an extra lane as the traffic is unbearable in the mornings and afternoons
Devan Moodley