North Way Road cause for grave concern

Resident Ansie Fourie stated the biggest concern with North Way Road is the traffic, especially with heavy vehicles (trucks). She noted even though Oom Piet Lottering has repaired the road on numerous occasions, the heavy traffic damages the tar and the potholes form again.

She questions when the Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) will step in.

She did an experiment where she counted the number of vehicles that pass on the road with a hand counter and concluded around 1 000 vehicles drive on that road only from 09:00 – 16:00. The traffic at night is, however, also a concern as it includes more trucks. Fourie added there is a maximum weight for vehicles travelling on North Way Road, which excludes trucks, she mentioned there used to be a sign-up with the maximum weight of vehicles allowed to travel on that road, however, the sign has since disappeared.

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With the potholes, she continued the vehicles on that side of the road had to swerve into the opposite lane to avoid it, which caused trouble for the motorists on that side and there is the concern for collisions.

“This road is an absolute nightmare. I have to wait for up to 15 vehicles to pass on the wrong side of the road before I can pass,” she said.

Carina du Toit, another resident added the vehicles driving along that road also don’t have respect for other road users such as pedestrians and cyclists who also have to swerve for the potholes. She has seen how pedestrians get splashed with water due to passing traffic.

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Fourie questioned whether alternative routes can rather be used by trucks, but raised concern for what will then happen to those roads and whether it will also be damaged. She mentioned that Lazaar Avenue would be a better alternative route as it is in better condition and can handle more traffic.

Du Toit added another concern is road users not stopping at the stop signs along the road. She noted after 18:00, no vehicles stopped at the signs especially the one on the corner of North Way Road and Homestead Avenue.

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Roger Michael, part owner of Trinity Aftercare, a nursery along North Way Road, added that potholes are not the only concern on the road, when it rains the water floods their entryway. He mentioned he regularly fills up their entryway to prevent the water from flooding their premises.

Spokesperson for the RWCLM, Phillip Montshiwa, stated that the municipality is poised to commence repairs on the road very soon.

“If everything goes according to plan, we will initiate the work next week. The issue on North Way Road will soon be a thing of the past.”