Call for solution to N2 death trap stretch
The stretch on the N2 between Empangeni and the eSikhaleni off-ramp has been labelled as a death trap
‘IT’S a death trap and something needs to be done.’
This is the opinion of District Surgeon Dr Frank van Niekerk, who says he is tired of the high number of post-mortems he has to do on accident victims on the N2 highway just outside Empangeni.
He was referring to the 10 to 15km stretch between the John Ross Parkway on-ramp, past the Engen garages to the eSikhaleni off-ramp.
‘Something needs to be done soon about this area. There have been dozens of horrific accidents because of motorists doing illegal U-turns and reckless overtaking,’ Van Niekerk said.
According to the City of uMhlathuze Fire and Rescue Services, 11 accidents have been recorded on this death-trap stretch since January.
The most recent accident left three women and one child (4) dead when their VW hatchback was hit head-on by a BMW sedan last Sunday.
No immediate solution
Vice Chairman of the Southern African Road Federation, Mike Patterson, said that they have been down that road – literally and figuratively – trying to address the issue with the province on a number of occasions, but to no avail.
‘There has been dozens of accidents on that stretch. Every time I address the issue with the province they say that they are busy upgrading the road. This is true, but it is not helping the immediate situation.’
Patterson said there are a number of reasons why so many serious accidents occur on this stretch.
‘That road is way over its designed capacity rate, owing to a number of reasons such as the growth of Mtunzini.
‘eSikhaleni residents also find it preferable to use the N2 because of the poor state of the alternative road, while the Engen garage off- and on-ramps add to the congestion and risk with the high volume of vehicles travelling at high speeds.
‘The issue of U-turns is also a major problem, and while the gravel road bypass next to the N2 allows people to cross over to the other side of the freeway, the low lying tunnel used for this purpose is usually full of water,’ Patterson said.
The R964-million project to widen the N2 stretch between Mtunzini and Empangeni into a safer dual carriageway is expected to be complete in 2019, but according to Patterson no interim measures seems to be considered.
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