WATCH: Clear and present danger at John Ross Eco Junction

IT has become more and more apparent that the intersection at the John Ross Eco Junction is ‘an accident waiting for a place to happen’.

Yet another motorist has approached the Zululand Observer with concerns regarding the intersection, especially when attempting to navigate away from the petrol station, turning right towards Empangeni.

The concern is apparent, as one has to move from a dead standstill over two lanes of traffic, with approaching vehicles moving at 100 km/h.

Deputy Chairman of the Zululand Division of the SA Roads Federation, Mike Patterson, explained that the City of uMhlathuze was well aware of the problem.

‘The equipment and lights have been bought but are still in storage,’ he said.

‘But at this stage, the process is being halted by an engineer from the provincial roads department who simply refuses to budge.’

According to Patterson the engineer has to give his stamp of approval, but has yet to do so.

In July the ZO reported on calls from the community to look at the issue as a matter of urgency, and as the construction of the new hospital is well underway, these concerns are growing daily as completion of the facility draws near.

Demand driven

‘I even spoke to the Premier about it just after he was almost taken out at the same intersection a few months ago,’ said Patterson.

An engineer from a private consulting firm, who cannot be named as he is not authorised to speak with the media, shed some light on the issue.

‘It is national policy that traffic signals are only installed where justified, and it is necessary that the signal timings are set according to the traffic volumes on each of the legs of the intersection,’ he said.

‘It is important that the road is safe but equally important that traffic on the John Ross Parkway is not unnecessarily stopped and delayed.

‘This is particularly important during peak traffic flows.

‘The KZN Department of Transport would therefore require traffic counts to be taken once the traffic has settled down and stabilised under the new conditions. They will then apply the standard warrant and approve the signalisation of the intersection, if justified.’

However, it was repeatedly stated at public participation meetings during construction of the John Ross Parkway that demand-driven robots at the Eco Junction were incorporated in the design.