KAMAQHEKEZA – Community members of this area are concerned with the poor progress of the reconstruction of the D797, although the general feeling among them is gratitude to see that something is being done about the road.
The progress made in the period so far has been of little comfort to most residents and road users, as a large part of the route is still a health hazard for locals and a nightmare for motorists.
For more than four months, construction has been focused on one area, which has resulted in traffic travelling from Tonga to Naas being redirected onto a route that according to some drivers, is much longer and time consuming.
Ms Elizabeth Masilela, a Block A resident, said, “Last year when we heard about the reconstruction of the road we were excited. We started seeing the activity of construction vehicles and we were hopeful that by this time the days of dust coming into our houses would be over, but we have yet to experience that.
“We can see construction on the other side and we see cars being redirected, but it has been like that for a while now.”
A road user who refused to be named said, “This is useless. I live here and travel on this road every day.
“Every time I pass through this area they are supposedly working on the road which I fail to see because at whatever time I pass, I see people sitting under trees.”
Last year during a sod-turning ceremony to officially launch the reconstruction of the road, MEC for roads and transport,
Ms Dekeledi Mahlanhu said they would not accept any excuses from the contractor when the time to hand over the road arrived.
