Frustrations rise at Tongaat toll

A meeting held between the Tongaat Toll Plaza’s manager and a concerned resident of Ballito has proved to show very little fruit in preparation for the swamp of vehicles expected to visit the North Coast during the festive season, just three weeks away.

The current closure of the M4 will also dramatically increase traffic on the N2.

Local resident and professional transport economist Carol Church uses the N2 many times a day and sees the toll plaza at its worst operating capacity more than most – accumulating several hours spent waiting to cross the plaza to continue with her day.

The toll plaza has been identified widely as a choke point of inefficient roadway management and maintenance after many complaints from road users of poor lighting, lack of staff, inadequate signage and slothful management.

Long queues bring traffic to a standstill for well over an hour at peak times due to trucks and e-tag users being diverted to incorrect lanes.

Carol had written several letters to Intertoll Africa general manager Ajit Maharaj since August, with no response other than to confirm receipt of her concerns.

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“I am appalled at how the toll plaza is operated, especially at peak traffic hours, and knowing it will get worse as we approach the festive season something needs to be done soon. Many of the lanes are unused which could alleviate the backlog of traffic. There are simple ways to get around some of the major issues like direction and stem of traffic flow, and lighting,” said Church.

The Courier contacted Ben Reddy, manager of the Tongaat Toll Plaza who agreed to meet with Church on November 6 to address her concerns which reflect the plight of hundreds and potentially thousands of motorists who use the toll daily, and discussed staffing issues at the booths, displaying of signage to indicate designated lanes for e-tags, and the use of mobile cones to push traffic towards under-utilised lanes.

However no concrete plans to alleviate the most serious of concerns will be addressed anytime soon with the earliest improvements earmarked to begin in March 2020 as an upgrade involving the streetlights.

“My suggestion to you is keep the left lane dedicated to Tongaat exit traffic only,” said Church.

“Allow the next lane to be spared with large plastic yellow separations that are easy to move by hand. When traffic volumes increase, the lane can simply be opened. If the computer system is a problem, put two terminals in the booth.”

Church also highlighted that toll plaza management needs to keep a close eye on traffic conditions at the plaza and designate staff or lanes accordingly to prevent backlogs getting out of hand.

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According to Church, more pressing issues at hand such as signage, direction and traffic control and peak times have not been addressed nor have timelines been set for the expected resolution of each matter.

A letter published last week titled ‘Sheza lane is so slow’ is yet another case of the same scenario where poor signage has led to motorists entering incorrect lanes, and delaying others for extended times while they reverse their mistakes.

“I am very concerned that this suggestion has not received a ‘positive response’ from Intertoll,” said Church.

“As mentioned, do you need me to stand with a sign at the off-ramp for the airport and advise toll users that they will wait two hours at the toll in Tongaat on December 13?”

Reddy noted that there is currently one person assigned at the gantry directing traffic and guiding e-tag vehicles, and that it was “Intertoll Africa’s goal to complete the erection of signage before the festive season”.

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