Residents protest for traffic light
Fed-up residents protest to get a traffic light installed.
Irate residents living next to the R55 in Centurion protested at the Lochner Road intersection on Friday morning, demanding the installation of a traffic light at the spot.
Resident Suraj Chaithram said the intersection had become notorious for accidents and serious traffic jams.
“We are experiencing extremely highly traffic volumes in the morning to the extent that we need to add an extra 35 to 40 minutes to get onto the N14 via the R55 in all directions and this is from Heuweloord, which is about three kilometres from the intersection.”
Democratic Alliance ward councillor Marika Kruger-Muller added: “We have been calling on the provincial government to install a traffic light for more than two-and-a-half years, but it still has not happened. That is why we are protesting today.”
Kruger-Muller said new developments, including a new estate in the area were going to add to the residents’ misery.
“The new development between Silver Stone Country Estate and Lochner Road will only make the traffic worse. The infrastructure cannot cope with the influx and growth.”
Residents, young and old, gathered from early in the morning. They stood next to the busy road, holding up signs and chanting “We want a robot”. Motorists hooted in support to the delight of the protesters.
During the protest, another problem came to the attention.
A taxi picking up passengers had to stop in the middle of the road because of the absence of a proper taxi rank at the intersection.
Another resident, Mandy Botha, said crossing the busy road was akin to gambling with your life.
“I have to cross the R55 with my children in my car every morning. Just by doing so we are gambling with our lives. We need a traffic light installed.”
Jacques Janse van Rensburg, also a resident, said there had already been a petition to have a traffic light installed.
“This traffic light is not just for the residents. People on bicycles, travelling from the nearby informal settlement as well as the people who push their trolleys filled with goods to be recycled.”
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