JRA warns bridge trespassers
The JRA has issued a warning to Wilgeheuwel residents to not remove barriers or ignore the road closure at the Sjampanje Street bridge.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has warned motorists to stop removing its barriers on Sjampanje Street in order to drive over the bridge.
The bridge has been closed for traffic since December last year, much to the frustration of locals, who are forced to endure severe traffic conditions, exacerbated by this closure.
According to head to infrastructure planning at JRA Musa Mkhacane the barriers placed over the road by JRA, are being removed by motorists to access the road. “Our teams are constantly having to return to the site to implement the road closure. These safety measures are in place to protect everyone by indicating potential hazards, lane, or road closures, and changes in traffic flow.
“By removing or ignoring these signs, motorists risk accidents and collisions, injury to construction workers, increase traffic congestion, and they risk incurring legal consequences.
• Also read: Sjampanje bridge to remain closed
“In terms of section 57 (12) of the National Road Traffic Act, no person shall wilfully or negligently damage any road traffic sign, or any other sign, signal, marking or other device, or without proper authority remove it or alter the position thereof or the inscription, lettering, colour or marking thereof or thereon. This is also applicable to temporary road traffic signs and barricades used to demarcate roadworks sites as prescribed in the South African Road Traffic Signs Manual.”
Mkhacane says that there is still no indication of when the road will be open again.
“Geotechnical studies are still underway. At this stage there is no definite timeframe on when the road will be open, however the JRA will update the public once an update becomes available.
• Also read: Sewage leak at Shampanje bridge attended to
“Our traffic engineers have devised a traffic accommodation plan which remains in place until further notice.”
The traffic light on Sjampanje Street, which was another thorn in the side of local residents, has according to Mkhacane, been repaired.
“The traffic light on Sjampanje Street intersecting Lubbe and Johan Streets was repaired on the March 19. We urge residents to continue reporting faulty or damaged traffic lights or other road infrastructure so that we may attend to them as soon as possible.”
