No plans to open Dickens onramp
This onramp was constructed many years ago, but it was never completed.
Despite it potentially making Athlone Park motorists’ lives easier, the South African National Roads Association Limited (SANRAL) said it has no plans to complete the N2 southbound Dickens Road onramp.
The city’s roads department is currently doing an extensive upgrade on Kingsway which runs through the Athlone Park, with numerous stop-and-gos.
This prompted Athlone Park resident, Colleen Dawson to ask SANRAL if it would be possible to open up the Dickens Road onramp to the southbound carriage of the N2 freeway at the top of Twini Hill.
“This onramp was constructed many years ago, but it was never completed. Surely it would make sense for the onramp to be opened while the upgrade is taking place, to alleviate traffic along Kingsway and enable the process of upgrading to flow more smoothly?” asked Colleen.
“We have no plans to construct this on-ramp in the next few years,” said Manny de Sousa of SANRAL.
Construction of the onramp was initially halted as it was found the angle of the onramp to the N2 was too acute.
In 2010 SANRAL awarded a contract to Stefanutti Stocks Civils to construct a retaining wall to accommodate a revised onramp. The wall was completed, but the onramp is still to be constructed.
Colleen has vowed not to give up the fight. “SANRAL said it has no plans to open the onramp, not that it doesn’t have a budget for it,” she said. “For residents of Athlone Park, it makes sense to have it open, instead of travelling along Kingsway every day.”
