LIFCO petitions for safer roads
LIFCO has launched a petition for traffic calming measures to be implemented in Little Falls and Strubens Valley.
The Little Falls and Strubens Valley Community Forum (LIFCO) is on a mission to make their roads safer and has launched a petition for speed calming measures to be implemented on certain streets.
According to LIFCO chairperson Claire Fauchet, both Little Falls and Strubens Valley are plagued by frequent traffic accidents and near-misses due to speeding.
“We pride ourselves on the fact that residents can still go for a walk in our neighbourhoods,” she says.
“Unfortunately, speeding motorists pose an ever-present danger. The roads have become rather hazardous for schoolgoers, runners and the many pedestrians that utilize roads within our area.
“The idea of traffic calming measures was brought up at our last community meeting, and eight local streets were identified as hot spots.
“Ward 85 Councillor, Zonè Hughes assisted us with the facilitation of the application process, and an initial assessment was done by Johannesburg Roads Agency to determine which of these eight streets would be suitable for speed calming measures.
“Of the eight roads, six were found eligible for speed calming measures.”
These roads are Cascades Road, Montrose Avenue, Waterval Road, Augrabies Avenue, Poortjie Avenue in Little Falls and Witwatersrand Avenue in Strubens Valley.
Fauchet adds that Fredenharry Road and Sabie Street were found by the JRA to be ineligible for traffic calming measures, even though they are two of the most severely affected roads in the area.
“In addition, Sabie Street is at the entrance of Trinityhouse Little Falls School. We have since requested speed calming signage and children crossing signs to be erected on these streets.”
The speed calming measures that LIFCO has requested consist of speed humps and platform humps.
“The application process is well underway,” says Fauchet. “We are currently in the process of collecting signatures for the petition, as one of the conditions of the JRA is that residents support the measures to be installed.”
She adds that the number of requests that LIFCO has received from residents who want traffic calming measures installed in their streets is concerning, as it shows the prevalence of speeding on residential roads.
“We call on all the residents of Little Falls and Strubens Valley to act responsibly on the roads for the sake of families, children, employees, and pets.”
If you would like to add your voice to the petition, you can send an email to info@lifco.co.za, or contact Fauchet on 082 465 1523.
