Councillor fighting to have pointsmen deployed

Calls for Tshwane metro to improve safety at dangerous intersections have fallen on deaf ears. This has prompted a councillor to fight for the deployment of pointsmen at, among others, the notoriously perilous intersection at Willem Botha and Dortrecht Streets in Eldoraigne.

It is of major concern that this intersection is close to Hoërskool Eldoraigne and Sutherland High School.

“In 2012 I submitted a petition to have Tshwane Metro deploy a pointsman at this intersection,” says Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Marika Kruger Muller. “This intersection is notoriously dangerous. Parents often stop next to the road or on the sidewalk to drop their children off for school. This causes severe traffic disruptions, and makes it dangerous for children to cross the road. We need someone to control the traffic flow.”

According to Muller, taxis drive on the sidewalk when there are traffic jams. “A pupil was once hit by one of these taxis.”

Councillor Muller is furious that it has taken so long to deploy pointsmen. “Tshwane metro approved three pointsmen to be deployed in various parts of Willem Botha Avenue. Since they approved this more than two years ago, not one person has been deployed. I have also asked the metro to enlist the services of the OutSurance pointsmen, but even this has not been done.”

This is not the only notorious road where the councillor wants to improve safety. Muller has been petitioning for more than a year to get a traffic light installed at the corner of the R55 and Lochner Road in Raslouw. This particular intersection is dangerous as pedestrians, trolley pushers and cyclists have to cross it, often in the midst of oncoming traffic.

Although the metro has looked into this crossing, and similar ones, only some have been dealt with. “When the metro inspected this area, they did so when it wasn’t in peak traffic, so they couldn’t do a proper assessment,” says Muller.

Traffic problems are common in Centurion, and several projects that are currently underway are disrupting the flow of traffic. Pentacon Civils is currently installing a large storm water drain system that runs from Jean Avenue to End Street.

Pedri van der Westhuizen, owner of Pentacon Civils says construction at the intersection of Rabie and End Streets should be completed by 24 October. “The construction process was delayed, because a fibre optic line had to be removed before we could start. The entire project, which includes widening the road on the corner of Jean Avenue and Rabie Street next to the new shopping centre should be completed by the end of March 2015.”

Although the Metro has failed to deploy pointsmen at various locations in Centurion, OutSurance pointsmen are currently assisting with traffic flow at the intersection at End Street.

Mayoral spokesperson Blessing Manale, and Metro police spokesperson Isaac Mahamba were unable to comment on the matter.

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