Motorists fume over Tshwane's neglect of road

Calls for action have been made by several motorists using Hans Strijdom Drive east of Mamelodi.

This section of the road carries heavy traffic - especially between the Old Bronkhorstspruit Road and Hector Pieterson Drive.

The motorists are upset because the road has been ignored by the Tshwane Metro Council for a long time, despite calls from drivers and residents for road improvement and regular patrols by Tshwane metro police officers.

Hans Strijdom serves as the main route for private vehicles, taxis and buses travelling from the easter n part of Mamelodi, which includes several infor mal settlements.

A resident, who did not wish to be named, called recently and complained about the condition of the road between Hinterland Avenue and the railway bridge on the southern side of Hans Strijdom Road.

According to the resident, the road has been damaged and the recent rains are adding to the deteriorating condition of the road.

He said they experienced delays during morning and afternoon peak hours due to the fact that motorists have to slow down to avoid damaging their cars.

On Sunday, I experienced firsthand the frustration of motorists and the people in the nearby Phomolong and Lusaka informal settlements.

The taxi I was travelling in had to slow down due to the bad condition of the road.

There was water all over the road and motorists had to slow down to ensure that their vehicles were not damaged.

Large potholes have developed on this section of the road over the months and it would appear that the

Cmunicipality has not been able to repair them.

Why did the council go to the extent of filling the potholes with sand instead of ensuring that they were properly filled?

This temporary measure will aggravate the problem, resulting in the municipality having to pay thousands of rand for repairs.

It always helps to do a proper job the first time, as this can save the municipality thousands.

This section of the road should be closed during off-peak hours so that proper repairs can be done.

Retarring this section of the road is the only lasting solution and the municipality's roads and transport division should send out its personnel to asses the damage.

Another road that needs urgent attention is Hector Pieterson Drive, which runs through the Lusaka infor mal settlement, east of Mamelodi.

This road has some of the worst potholes and the problem is compounded by taxi drivers who drive as they please.

Let's hope that these roads will be attended to before their conditions deteriorate further.

More metro police patrols are needed along this stretch of road, which has become an alternative to Tsamaya Road.

Pretoria News

Posted at 06:14AM Feb 09, 2012 by Editor in Cities and Towns  |