Hope as Kenville bridge project nears completion
For the past five years, the bridge, which connects Kenville Road to Sea Cow Lake, has been under construction.
AS a project to complete the Kenville Road bridge nears completion, residents of the area have turned their frustrations into hope.
For the past five years, the bridge, which connects Kenville Road to Sea Cow Lake, has been under construction, leading to many residents having to find alternate routes out of the area.
Now the company carrying out the construction has completed the job, leaving only the traffic lights and road markings from the eThekwini Traffic Authority to be installed and painted on.
There is added urgency to the road project as a section of the upper half of Kenville Road has collapsed and is widening.
Related story: Kenville Road collapse concerns residents
Should the road collapse and the bridge not be opened, residents will be stranded in their homes and flats, with no way in and out of the area by vehicle.
Chairperson of the Kenville/Sea Cow Lake Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association, Anil Beekrum, has urged the municipality to mark the project as a top priority.
“Initially, the realignment of Sea Cow Lake Road and the construction of the Kenville Road bridge was supposed to have been completed in two years (2018 to 2020). What has happened instead is the project has now taken five years. The Covid-19 pandemic also had a part to play. Prior to the installation of the bridge, a journey that would take less than two minutes to join the main road, now takes an additional eight kilometres of driving.
“It is vital for the residents of the area that this bridge is operational and that the traffic lights are installed. I’ve been told by the engineers that the bridge will only be opened once the traffic lights are operational to ensure the safety of pedestrians and motorists. At the moment, they have installed the four poles at the intersection. It is a relief to see the project come to fruition, and we hope that all of this will be accessible to residents before a total road collapse at the beginning of Kenville Road,” he said.
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