Public to voice opinion on R55 upgrade

The meeting will be a follow-up from the first meeting and will focus on the progress of the Environmental Impact Assessment and specialist studies for the upgrade of the road.

While this is the last meeting to discuss the environmental concerns for the road, the public participation process will continue while the impact assessment is being conducted.

All issues raised in these meetings will be addressed in the assessment reports and these will be submitted to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, who will make a decision.

Ward 93 councillor Annette Deppe has been fighting for the road upgrade on behalf of residents and motorists for years.

Deppe said, “I welcome the proposed upgrade of the road and while some considerations need to be made, the upgrade would benefit motorists from Pretoria, Johannesburg and Kyalami who travel the road on a daily basis.”

Timelines for the construction process will be discussed as well as what is planned for construction.

The provision of street lights, pedestrian walkways and cycle lanes on the upgraded road will be discussed as well as the signalisation of the intersections along the road.

The changes on the previous layout or design plans, such as the closure of access roads and additional infrastructure and requests to relocate service roads, will be among the plans discussed. Compensation and proclamation issues will also be addressed.

The meeting will be held from 6pm to 8pm at Urban Life Church in Crowthorne.