Community wants direct access to R55

While the second Environmental Impact Assessment public participation meeting for the upgrade was the last chance for residents to log environmental concerns, the residents used the two hour meeting to demand continued access to the provincial road from their properties. The community were concerned their businesses will be threatened without access to the main road.

Edwin Sikaala of Department of Roads and Transport said access to a provincial road could not be given, but judging by the community’s demands, the department would have to give the issue more consideration. The community will have more chances to force the issue at future public participation meetings. As for environmental concerns, further objections will have to be sent directly to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, who will make a decision on whether the upgrade should go ahead. Kopano Environmental Management Services did not find that the upgrade will have a negative environmental impact.

Around 60 people attended the meeting at Urban Life Church in Crowthorne to find out more information about the 6km upgrade of the R55, also known as the P66/1, from Summit Road to the intersection of Main Road. Construction will begin in the second half of 2014. Sikaala said the biggest challenge would be accommodating the traffic on this road during construction. The 6km stretch of upgraded road will be a duel carriage way, with an island in the middle and pedestrian and cycle lanes. Greater Kyalami chairperson Kristin Kallesen commended the department for initiating this non-motorised transport initiative.

Street lights will be installed, but traffic light signals were still to be considered.

Director of environmental services, Kgomotso Molefi said proclamation and compensation issues had already been paid, and it was now an issue between the previous and current land owner.