Domoina Lane – what a gemors

SPARE a thought for the businesses in Domoina Lane and Mason Street between Church and Utrecht streets. Last year a contractor was appointed (not without some controversy) to upgrade the two streets, which handle huge volumes of pedestrian traffic every day. For pedestrians, Domoina Lane is the most direct route from the Plaza Taxi Rank to the centre of town. At the best of times Domoina Lane is a lane, not a street. At the best of times it is congested – just one delivery vehicle can jam it up completely. The situation is not helped by the stalls of informal traders which occupy most of the pavement space. At the best of times there are more pedestrians walking on the road than there are on the pavement. It is not known for certain how the urban revitalisation planners hoped to relieve the situation and restore some order to the chaos, but work began on the project late last year. It is not known for certain how far the contractor had got when, as most contractors do, it closed for the December holidays. But according to one trader, businesses were seriously inconvenienced and financially affected by the state of the roads and pavements at this, the busiest time of the year. Nevertheless, it would seem that it was understood that come January 2014, the job would be swiftly completed. By January 20, no further work had taken place. “There’s no sign of the contractor, nothing is happening,” said the disgruntled businessman. Driving down Domoina Lane on Monday this week, it is evident that if the situation was bad, now it is worse than ever. There is no evidence of any improvements. There is evidence of pavements collapsing into the road, of the road surface in parts having been uplifted, of a 30-plus centimetres deep trench waiting to break someone’s leg or for a car’s wheel to drop in, of more pedestrians than ever in the road, more informal traders than ever on the pavements. And a few potholes just for fun! Down the bottom end, where Domoina Lane intersects Mason Street, the chaos is as bad as ever because a pile of kerbing slabs occupies the road. Any truck wanting to make a delivery down the south end of Mason Street, hasn’t a chance. If there is one light at the end of the tunnel it’s that the bricks and sand and stones and kerbing are, apparently, disappearing with people helping themselves at night, so eventually the road might just be cleared. And there was absolutely no sign of any work being done to relieve the situation, no sign of anyone beginning to complete the job. It appeared that the rate-paying businesses in Domoina Lane and Mason Street were simply going to have to operate as best they could amid the chaos for at least another month. The Acting Director, Development and Planning at AbaQulusi Municipality was asked for comment about this matter but had failed to respond at the time of going to press on Tuesday this week.