RESIDENTS in Glenashley campaigning to have speed-calming measures implemented along Newport Avenue have recently been left confused and disappointed by a response from the eThekwini Transport Authorities’ Traffic Engineering Department.

Mariet Holland and Dallas Sutton have for years been advocating for a solution to the reckless speeding along the dangerous roadway.

Despite being told in 2014 that Newport Avenue ‘did not meet the requirement for the implementation of speed humps’, they have been pushing for other solutions, including speed traps or warning signs.

However, last week Holland received an e-mailed response claiming that the last assessment on Newport Avenue was done in August 2014 and that a ‘new assessment on the road will be undertaken, which may take up to 10 weeks’ as the ‘city’s roads are monitored on an annual basis to determine the need for traffic calming’.

“What then happened to last year’s assessment? Last year we made the same appeal and were told that a traffic circle was on the cards, but to date have received no confirmation. They are constantly dragging their feet and I feel like they are waiting for a serious accident where someone dies before any action is taken,” said Holland.

“The municipality can spend millions of Rands of taxpayers’ money towards tourism to fly celebrities into our country who don’t even sell out their concerts, but they can’t spend money on the things we actually need, like road safety,” added a frustrated Holland.

Accidents on the road, she said, were such a common occurrence that the municipality has opted to remove two street lamps that were constantly being knocked over.

Sutton said many residents are so fearful and reluctant to use the road that they take massive detours to avoid Newport Avenue.

“Every day cars speed along that road up to 140 kilometres per hour. All we as ask is that they put up speed bumps, a traffic circle or even a simple sign to warn motorists that it is a high accident risk zone,” added Sutton.