Traffic mayhem on cards
Construction of a section of Tshwane’s BRT system starts at Menlyn early next year and motorists could prepare for some traffic chaos.
Motorists should brace themselves for traffic disruptions near Menlyn in Atterbury Road and January Masilela Drive from early next year.
Construction of a section of the B2 Line of Tshwane’s A Re Yeng bus rapid transit (BRT) system starts in the first quarter of 2016.
Building the dedicated BRT lane and a bus station on Atterbury Road from the Menlyn centre to January Masilela Drive was expected to take about 18 months.
“The building of this section of the B2 Line is not controversial.
“The plan is to have three regular vehicle lanes in each direction and a dedicated BRT lane also in each direction,” said DA councillor Duncan Baker.
He said the northern lanes will be elevated to accommodate the proposed quarter link, which is essential for the development by Eris Props to the north of Atterbury.
The extension of the Line 2B trunk route will run along Atterbury Road between Lois Street and January Masilela Drive in Menlyn. The route will include one median station and will also include the construction of Dallas Road.
Developer Eris Props plans to build a new development north of Atterbury Road.
“Eris Props went through a very lengthy and thorough public participation process with the affected community to the north of Kelvin Street,” Baker said.
“It has also either bought or taken options on residential properties to the south of Kelvin Street.”
Kelvin Street runs parallel with Atterbury Road on the northern side.
Baker said because a new dedicated lane was being built on both sides of the affected roads, attempts would be made to keep traffic disruptions during the construction to a minimum.
“Because a third lane is being built next to the existing traffic lanes, most work will be performed without disrupting traffic flow,” he explained.
Tshwane metro recently held a public participation meeting at the Alkantrand library to explain the way forward regarding the extension of the B2 Line.
One of the consequences of this proposal will be densification in the area around the bus station,” said DA councillor Siobhan Muller..
Meanwhile, controversy surrounding the construction of the BRT system from Menlyn to Loftus Versfeld west of the N1, continued.
Following a public outcry about a decision by Tshwane to decrease the lanes in Atterbury Road and Lynnwood Road to accommodate the A Re Yeng route to Loftus, a new notice of intent to narrow Atterbury and Lynnwood Roads to a single lane in both directions for general traffic will only be published for public participation next year.
The implementation of the system from Menlyn to Loftus Versfeld had been postponed following the decision to commission a new Traffic Impact Assessment and a new Economic Impact Assessment which would only be released for public comment next year.
The metro last year unanimously decided to scrap its original plan of introducing a third lane in the affected parts of Atterbury and Lynnwood roads for its BRT system A Re Yeng to save costs.
It instead would reserve one lane in both directions exclusively for A Re Yeng.
Traffic management experts, residents and businesses were up in arms about the decision, claiming it would cause a traffic nightmare – effectively cutting the east off from the CBD.
The DA at the time, launched a petition against the plan and had to date collected more than 3 500 signatures opposing the decision.
Also read:
A Re Yeng experience in the capital city
Convenient, safe and accessible bus service
Questions raised over non completion of BRT lines
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