Nov 03, 2017 Road Safety, Pedestrian, Trucks, Trucking, road, overweight, HeavyDuty, EtezaTrafficControl
Minister of Transport Joe Maswanganyi has officially launched the Eteza Traffic Control Centre and the Kwabhoboza Interchange – two new road safety projects constructed by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) at a total cost of almost R500 million.
SANRAL's strategy is that the Eteza Traffic Control Centre will help curb extensive overloading of trucks, a practice that has resulted in a marked deterioration in the condition of the province’s road network. The road damage caused by overloading leads to higher maintenance and repair costs and shortens the life of a road - placing an additional burden on the state as well as law abiding road users who ultimately carry the costs of careless and inconsiderate overloading.
The overload control facility at Eteza sees heavy vehicles of more than five tons gross mass weighed. Drivers of heavy vehicles will be issued a fine if the vehicle exceeds the permissible mass on gross mass and/or axle unit mass. The facility is also used to inspect the roadworthiness of vehicles on a 24-hour basis.
The existing intersection at Kwabhoboza was problematic as not only was it extremely busy, but the high speed of the vehicles travelling on N2 made the crossing extremely dangerous for motorists and pedestrians. SANRAL explains that the improvements have already resulted in safer walkways for pedestrians; improved safety overall for pedestrians and motorists and a reduction in accidents.
The overhaul included the provision of taxi lay byes and pedestrian facilities with a new pedestrian fence on the road reserve within the KwaMsane community also installed. The added bonus of the two projects is the involvement of the community through jobs creation and skills training.
Dumisani Nkabinde, Operations and Maintenance Manager at SANRAL Eastern region said during preparation for the construction of the Kwabhoboza Interchange, that the organisation undertook a transportation study of the function of the N2 within the Mtubatuba region.
The study conducted around 2008/2009, reported that daily there were between 500 and 700 pedestrians crossing the N2 freeway unsafely especially at the point where the new interchange is now built. Several serious and fatal accidents were witnessed weekly. (one wonders why it took 8 years to see the project come into fruition with pedestrian numbers at that level? Ed).
The report also revealed that due to the poor condition of community roads linking KwaMsane Township and the Mtubatuba town, motorists and pedestrians were being forced to use the N2 as the access road into town.
The project therefore saw the municipality assisted in the construction of concrete internal collector roads by SMMEs at a cost of R21 million. At the same time, SANRAL rehabilitated other community roads in the area after community members complained about flooding of their houses due to poorly designed existing roads.
Minister Maswanganyi in an address to the community said: “The transport sector is at the heart of the country’s development and it is my duty to ensure that South Africans have safe, reliable, affordable and convenient public transport. Improved road infrastructure also has the potential to bring about a quantifiable reduction in fatalities. Decisions made at the design stage can have a significant impact on the level of death and injury when the road has been constructed.”
“Best global practices in design and engineering are increasingly being implemented in developing countries and South Africa is, indeed, fortunate to draw on the experience and expertise available at an organisation such as SANRAL which is widely-respected among its peers in the industry.”
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