Letter: Too PC correct

Paul Smith of Zinkwazi writes:

If I may add my views following the recent article “N2 roadworks have little to show” (North Coast Courier, March 6).

The article was very politically correct, in fact maybe a little too PC. This ‘joke’ has been played out on local residents for five years, not as stated “for the last couple of years”.

I doubt anywhere in the developed world roads remain partially closed and in such a deplorable and dangerous condition for this length of time.

The concrete barrier to the section as one approaches the Stanger exit has now been knocked over exposing a seriously dangerous drop-off.

Should a vehicle veer over this it would cause a catastrophic collision, and doubtlessly deaths. Would Sanral be prepared to accept responsibility for this event!

Sanral “are firm in their commitment”, you report, that SMEEs need to be appointed for this work. One assumes therefore that one of these very companies failed to conclude any contractual obligation for this work in the first place?

How many other SMEE companies should Sanral ‘try out’ to conclude these works, whilst we and visitors to KZN have to put up with dangerous roads.

Roads that I may add, are toll roads, we pay each time we use these, the reasonable expectation of most drivers is that these roads, above all others should be maintained properly.

Surely, they have an obligation in this regard or am I being naïve in thinking fees collected go towards maintenance of these roads.

Over the past two years or more I also note the effectiveness and quality of ‘repairs’ or patching of these roads, again doubtlessly by contractors that fulfil Sanral’s criteria.

One does not need to be an expert here, just drive your car over these (many) patches to testify to the extremely poor quality.

Difference in levels are noticeable even at 120kms/hr.

This is a very busy road used by thousands of heavy container lorries, vehicles that damage these roads, with overloading I suspect a contributing factor.

How long I wonder will these ‘mickey-mouse’ patches last under these conditions.

Sanral you need to up your game, join the real world and not some ideological haven where SMEEs of doubtful competence are responsible for an essential road network.

They would be more suited to residential driveways, carparks etc.

Employing people to stand by the road waving flags as a warning for five years. Are you kidding me!

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