Traffic chaos amidst construction
Pretoria east residents say they are frustrated by the traffic congestion caused by the Castle Gate construction in Erasmus Park.
Motorists in the east of Pretoria say they are frustrated by the traffic congestion caused by the Castle Gate construction in Erasmus Park.
Koedoesnek Avenue, which links to Solomon Mahlangu Drive and nearby highways, has been closed off between Mahlangu Drive and Cliff Avenue.
This was due to water pipe infrastructure as well as widening of the road.
All traffic was being diverted, forcing motorists to use the traffic lights at Kierieklapper Street, which does not have a right turn arrow if you want to turn from Mahlangu.
“The results in pure chaos and frustration,” resident Marie van Blerk told Rekord.
“Surely the developer could have foreseen that this was going to be a problem and engaged the services of Outsurance to provide dedicated pointsmen during peak hours.”
READ MORE: Infrastructure can handle East multi-billion-rand project
Van Blerk said community members were also not informed about the road closures and they did not know how long the traffic backups would continue.
“Why must we as community members bear the brunt when a development is being undertaken? How much more will we have to endure before this development is completed?”
The Rand Castle Gate mixed-use precinct in Erasmus Park along Solomon Mahlangu Drive will comprise 100 000 square metres of office space, 40 000 square metres of specialist medical facilities and a hotel.
The construction includes double lanes in both directions on Solomon Mahlangu Drive, between Castle Gate and Hoërskool Waterkloof.
Castle Gate development manager Raoul de Villiers said they were aware of the traffic problems in the area and were trying to keep disruptions to a minimum this was “normal and planned”.
“We are widening Solomon Mahlangu and Koedoesnek, which will greatly relieve traffic congestion,” he said.
He said approval for the temporary closure of Koedoesnek was obtained from the Tshwane municipality for a period of six weeks.
He said the road closure was approved for from 27 January 2020 until 2 March 2020.
“The team also regularly communicates with the ward councilor responsible for the area.”
READ MORE: R300-million Solomon Mahlangu upgrade kicks off
De Villiers said the developers have received three three complaints from residents and have already requested additional pointsmen at the intersection of Solomon Mahlangu and Kierieklapper.
He said there was a possibility that Koedoesnek would be open soon after the completion of the bulk earthworks close to the road.
“This road closure will be as a safety provision to the public as heavy machinery will be operating close to the road.”
The retail centre will open on 24 September this year.
The first phase of road and other upgrades will be complete by July.
This will be followed by the second phase road upgrades which will include the widening of Solomon Mahlangu all the way across the N1 highway by means of a new bridge.
He said the upgrades catered for the historical backlog of infrastructure as well as the proposed future developments within Castle Gate.
Ward councillor Juan Van Buuren said there have been some discussion with the Tshwane metro police, who have been in communication with the developers for a short-term solution.
“There has been a request for pointsmen during peak hour,” he said.
“There was also a request for a traffic light which would allow vehicles to turn right at the intersection of Mahlangu and Kierieklapper.”
He pleaded with motorists to be patient in the area while construction was underway.
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