RESIDENTS and business owners around the Kassier Road precinct held a meeting to discuss their concerns about the left-in-left-out road system that will be created once the new road is built.

The meeting was to discuss the access issues due to the road upgrade. The upgrade of Kassier Road is set to enable the much-anticipated development of Westown Shongweni.

The infrastructure upgrade includes two new bridges and a total makeover of the existing two-lane Kassier Road, across the M13 and N3, into four lanes with a centre median. A new pedestrian bridge will also be added over the N3, along with a new loop ramp and bridge over Kassier Road, providing direct access into Westown.

Also read: Road to Westown sees upgrade of Kassier Road

As much as many people are happy that Kassier Road is finally being repaired and they welcome the upgrade, some of the business owners are concerned this will affect their business and in turn create job losses. The residents want assurance that this upgrade won’t affect the routes they use to access their homes.

“We are concerned that the centre island will limit right turns into and out of houses and businesses along the road,” said a business owner.

A spokesperson from Westown said that with the increasing volume of traffic and with its current state, Kassier Road needs an upgrade.

“Without this upgrade, there can be no further development/redevelopment by property owners/developers in the area.”

The spokesperson said Westown has ensured that this upgrade takes place in the immediate-term. She gave an update on the current state of the road upgrade as of Monday.

“Supporting the progress on site, the surrounding road infrastructure upgrades are well underway and include two new bridges and a total makeover of the existing two-lane Kassier Road across the M13 and N3 into four lanes, with a new loop ramp and bridge over Kassier Road providing direct access into Westown.

“According to Westown, Phase 1A, covering the 3km section from Alverstone Road to Milky Way (MR559), is due for completion in March 2024.

Also read: Kassier Road is a ‘death trap’, say residents

“Phase 1B, the road from the N3 Shongweni interchange, heading north to the Hillcrest Hospital/Alverstone intersection, will open in advance of the official opening of Westown Square in March 2025, with The West Private Hospital, warehousing and logistics sub-precinct, and the first tranches of residential units being phased in.”

In addition, Westown assured that every property will have formal road access.

“As a result of the class of the road and the volume of traffic, the ability to provide full, uninterrupted access to every property is limited. Where property accesses are unsafe from a distance perspective, access has to be restricted to left-in/left-out – this is not a unique situation at all, and there are many instances across the city where there is such an arrangement.

“It even includes Westown where a left-in-left-out access has had to be provided. Vehicles will, however, be able to make safe turns along Kassier Road, at the signalised intersections, to north or south of a property.”

The spokesperson highlighted that the key issue is that they are merely the implementing agents. “We are working on behalf of the City and according to the formally approved plans and designs.”

Kassier Road is in need of an upgrade

eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the upgrade to Kassier Road is a major improvement in this area as the road is in a bad state of disrepair.

“The construction of this road will consist of two lanes in each direction and a median, which is a concrete barrier for safety reasons in the middle, just like we have in the M4 south. This prevents cars from turning right across the M13. The engineers proposed a left-in-left-out solution which is workable.”

She said the City is only aware of complaints from two businesses across the M13, who claim that they will be negatively affected.

Also read: Two women, dog killed in Kassier Road truck crash

“The two affected businesses were workshopped on this solution as this construction will, in the long run, have a great economic impact for the precinct,” said Sisilana.

Attending the meeting was DA eThekwini Municipality deputy leader Mzamo Billy who said this upgrade is a good initiative and they support it.

“The road has been a concern for some time now. The only concerning thing is that other people feel they have no clearance on this project. We are not opposing the development; we are behind it; we believe it could benefit everyone. I hope that all business owners and residents can be engaged accordingly going forward,” he said.

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