Locals count fatalities at Umbilo crossing
Councillor Nicole Graham has appealed to the municipality once again to act on speed calming in ZK Matthews Road.
CITY councillor Nicole Graham has called for action after another accident at the intersection of ZK Matthews and Deodar Roads in Umbilo.
“Over the past month, I have met residents and an official on site to try and resolve the problems here. The request for guard rails to protect homes on both sides of the intersection was turned down. The appeal of this decision, as well as requests for other calming and enforcement measures, is still awaiting a response from officials. This is despite numerous follow-ups from myself and residents,” she said.
In July, Berea Mail wrote that a study of the traffic count at the intersection of Deodar and ZK Matthews Road was to be undertaken after Graham requested traffic signals be installed at the intersection.
This came after a meeting with residents following the death of a motorist at the intersection. Residents complained that speeding along ZK Matthews Road had become unacceptable, and appealed for something to be done.
Along with the request for traffic signals at this intersection, Graham requested the municipality re-paint the warning line in the middle of ZK Matthews Road as it had faded and people drove straight across into oncoming traffic. She also requested the municipality add a yield sign, and that a crash barrier was urgently needed on the corner outside 151 ZK Matthews Road as four accidents had occurred at this property over the past few years.
In response to the accident last week, a Glenwood resident said he felt the cheapest and quickest solution would be to extend the median through that intersection, or install an armco barrier right across it, stopping all crossing traffic. He said crossing traffic would naturally be diverted to the Albert Dhlomo Road and Rick Turner Road intersections, which are controlled by traffic lights.
“It’s clear that we Durban drivers aren’t capable of managing these crossings. At the speed people drive on that road, it’s only a matter of time before we have our next fatality,” he said.
