EDITOR – Through you I would like to raise the issue of the overgrown, messy and unsafe state of the median strip and verges of the M13 through Westville. It is as if this is the ‘Cinderella’ highway in the greater Durban area (maybe a half-sister to the M19, but that is another story…). With waist-high grass, flourishing weeds and obstructed signage all the way up 45th cutting, one must wonder whether anyone with responsibility for road safety and maintenance travels on it. If the overgrowth was not bad enough, the many instances of damaged crash barriers, some of which lean drunkenly and perilously close to the carriageways, give the lie to anyone suggesting that the road is being properly maintained.
The speed restrictions at the bridge over Roger Sishi (Blair Athol) remain in place despite no work being performed, and as far as I can see nothing has been done there for the last few weeks. A comparison with the M4 (Ruth First) shows how much better the situation could be. Confusingly, several businesses and organisations have erected boards alongside the road, proudly announcing that they are participants in the conservancy project. What their efforts add to the situation is not immediately obvious.
One saving grace is the annual Comrades Marathon, for which at least some effort is made at cleaning things up. It would be sad if we had to wait for that before anything were done to correct what is a dangerous as well as an unsightly situation.
Rob Charlton
New Germany
