UPDATE: Traffic headache at Tiffany’s intersection continues

Congestion may simply be an unavoidable feature of life in Salt Rock, but the end does not appear to be in sight for hard-pressed motorists using the Salt Rock road.

Attempts to address the lack of traffic signals at the Tiffany’s/Foxhill intersection has been met with a growing sense of frustration by locals who have been demanding a solution to the congestion issue for almost a decade.

As far back as 2008, the South African Road Agency (Sanral) who is responsible for the road granted approval for the development of the shopping centre on condition the developers undertake the work and foot the cost of the installation of traffic signals.

This was confirmed at a meeting with KwaDukuza municipality on outstanding roadwork projects in the district at the end of last year.

Sanral officials told KDM executive director for economic development and planning, Sikhumbuzo Hlongwane, that approval had been granted for the installation of robots on the N2 at the Salt Rock off-ramp on condition the work was done at the Tiffany’s developer’s costs.

However Tiffany’s shopping centre spokesperson Nicki Vorster told the Courier they could not do anything until they had received authorisation and a formal go-ahead in writing from the Transport department, that has jurisdiction on the Salt Rock road.

She did not accept that Sanral had the authority over that stretch of road.

However, Sanral’s design, planning and construction manager Ravi Ronny contradicted Vorster’s statement saying the intersection fell within Sanral’s road reserve and was within their jurisdiction to make a decision.

“While KZN’s transport department was not in favour of the signalisation due to the steep gradients on the access out of the shopping centre we do not believe this concern outweighs the safety concern related to the high number of accidents taking place in that region and we are now requiring that the intersection be signalised.”

Sanral said an agreement between the municipality and Tiffany’s is in the process of being drafted. Once this was signed and Sanral has sight of this, then the installation could continue.

“This matter is being treated as priority,” said Ronny who added the road agency had also engaged with Ilembe Chamber and local businesses in the area informing them of the progress.

Ilembe Chamber CEO, Cobus Oelofse said the chamber did facilitate a number of meetings and proposals to the KDM council to ensure that business competitiveness in this precinct was not adversely affected by the traffic situation.

“Our efforts are continuing and although time lines and urgency are stressed they are difficult to enforce and this is impacting delivery of contractual obligations in the area. We hope to resolve the issues in this wider growth node sooner than later.”

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