Lack of pointsmen frustrates Kempton Park motorists
Load-shedding results in traffic congestion on Kempton roads.
Kempton Park motorists find themselves frustrated at times of load-shedding, which results in traffic congestion.
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This was the case on April 17 when Eskom announced load-shedding, which resulted in motorists approaching Express with grievances about congestion due to traffic lights not working.
When Eskom announced load-shedding in most parts of the country including Kempton Park, travelling came to a standstill on Kempton roads.
This was further aggravated by the lack of traffic controllers at most of the area’s busiest intersections during peak hours.
“With all the power outages I wonder where all our traffic department people are to control the traffic at the intersections? These include CR Swart, Pretoria Road, Voortrekker going to the airport and Monument Road,” stated Frieda Matthee in a letter to the Express.
“To get from Van Riebeeck Park to the airport can easily take 45 minutes during peak hours.”
Media liaison officer of the EMPD, Lerato Monyane, said officers and wardens are dispatched to major intersections experiencing load-shedding.
“When there is load-shedding power goes off in 80% of the Kempton Park precinct area. Unfortunately, not all traffic lights and intersections can be covered,” said Monyane.
Monyane said Kempton Park also has major intersections, which require two or even more pointsmen at times of power outages such as the Serengeti three-way intersection, which needs eight traffic controllers.
Other major intersections which require more than one pointsmen include CR Swart and P38, CR Swart and Monument, Monument and Van Riebeek, Monument and Dann Road, Great North and West/Elgin, Great North and Ascolona Street, Great North and Stanley Road, Atlas and Bonaero Drive, Atlas and Geldenhuys Road, Atlas and O’Hare Road, Atlas and Bass Road, 3rd and High Road, P38 and R23, P38 and P91, R25 onramp to R21 and R25 off-ramp from R21.
“Thus not all the intersections can be covered at the same time due to major intersections requiring several pointsmen,” said Monyane.
“The points leading to R21 Central Avenue under the bridge are covered by the OR Tambo Airport precinct,” Monyane said.
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