Traffic flow and danger at intersection soon of the past

A “busy” and “dangerous” intersection in Wierda Park might soon be converted into a traffic circle, thanks to an R1-million grant by the municipality to individual wards in Tshwane.

The money is allocated to each ward to upgrade pressing “micro” infrastructure issues in that ward. It is up to each ward councillor to decide on what exactly it would be spent on after consulting with residents.

For the ward councillor Cindy Billson, “first prize” would be a traffic circle at the intersection of Estcourt Avenue and Goshawk Street.

Billson said local residents signed a petition last year to install a set of traffic lights or a traffic circle at the intersection.

“Over 400 signatures were obtained and submitted to the metro’s petition committee in early 2020. Since then we requested a four-way stop to regulate traffic in the meantime,” she told Rekord.

“I am not sure which solution we’ll be presented with; however, we hope that it will be a traffic circle.”

Called the “ward base plan”, the metro will allocate R1-million to each ward to upgrade small infrastructure in that ward under the programme.

“The programme is being implemented by liaising with ward councillors,” said the acting chief of staff at the mayor’s office, Jordan Griffiths.

“They, in turn, liaise with their communities.”

The ward councillors will then submit a list with prioritised items in their wards to be upgraded for the metro to finalise the budget.

“We plan to allocate around R1-million to each ward; however, the budget will only be finalised during May. We are in the consultation stage of the process and obtaining feedback from councillors, which will be discussed at the end of the month’s next council meeting.

“It has never been done before. The initiative will allow us to address anything from upgrades to pavements, construction of new speed humps to traffic circles and replacement and provision of park equipment.

Other things that could be included are fencing off facilities; enhancement of public lighting; installation of traffic lights or new traffic signals/signs.

“Or any other various small ward-based projects with a visible character that will improve the general physical conditions in wards.”

Billson said the intersection is at the top of her list.

“I have received many complaints from concerned residents about safety and traffic flow at the intersection.

“It is too busy and dangerous. Vehicles build up speed in Estcourt Avenue and do not slow down when they approach the intersection. There is a lot of movement in the vicinity; motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians and vendors move about.”

Billson said especially during peak hours in the mornings, traffic builds up to the extent that the entire Goshawk Street comes to a standstill, which is a source of frustration for residents.

She said the ward base plan programme does not replace major capital works and key service delivery projects.

“The metro set down guidelines for the identification of micro-intervention projects in wards. A cost estimate has been done based on existing contracts used by the metro for the implementation of these types of projects.

“This is important as the costing for these types of projects must be used as a guideline to enable adherence to the proposed budget provision.”

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