Permanent closure of Hennops Road in final stages for approval
The permanent closure of Hennops Road will have a relatively small impact on traffic in the Cranbrook Vale, Centurion, but will have a major impact on vehicles, busses and taxis using it as a detour, especially in the peak morning traffic.
The intervention of the permanent closure of Hennops Road for access to and from Old Johannesburg Road R101 is in its final stages of approval. This comes after a recent incident where a learner of Hoërskool Zwartkop, Henry Garnett-Bennett (14) was injured by a minibus taxi disobeying basic traffic rules.
On Tuesday, 29 September, DA representatives Peter Sutton and Fred Nel (also Gauteng MPL), held a public meeting on the corner of Old Johannesburg and Mopani roads to discuss solutions and update the community on interventions in the process. “The safety of school children has been a concern for some time,” Sutton told Rekord.
He added that the meeting was well attended by the community and workable solutions was tabled which will be investigated further.
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“Interventions which have taken place is the upgrading and structural improvement of the pedestrian crossing.” “This intervention is in the final stages of approval,” he said.
“The permanent closure of Hennops Road will have a relatively small impact on traffic in the Cranbrook Vale, Centurion, but will have a major impact on vehicles, busses and taxis using it as a detour, especially in the peak morning traffic. “But, ultimately this will lead to better safety of our children,” he said.
Another intervention in progress is a balustrade on the side of Old Johannesburg Road between Valley and Mopani roads to keep vehicles from driving on the shoulder of the road. The road curb are also being elevated to avoid vehicles to access the shoulder of the road and so endangering learners.
A number of other suggestions will also be investigated. Sutton is in the process to set up a site inspection meeting with officials from the Gauteng provincial roads department as well as the Tshwane roads department to discuss all options and interventions.
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He said all interested parties will be kept updated on the progress of this matter. A total of 1 384 community members signed a petition, which was initiated by former local ward councillor Cindy Billson after Henry’s accident. Henry’s father, Dirk, said his son is getting better day-by-day.
Their son was rushed to Zuid-Afrikaans hospital on the morning of Wednesday, 16 September after he was struck by a minibus-taxi. Henry was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
He sustained bleeding on the brain as well as a fracture to his skull. He was in ICU for three days. “He went back to school on Monday this week.
“He is feeling much better and he is glad to be back at school,” Dirk said.
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