Heavy loads, hefty damage
The total weight of the convoy is 789-tons, adding to the strain already being taken by the local roads
HEAVY loads have thundered through the streets of Richards Bay this week, with multi-wheeled convoys delivering transformers and equipment from the harbour to power stations in Mpumalanga.
Tuesday was a case in point, with a 340-ton Eskom transformer slowly making its way along the John Ross Parkway before turning onto the R619 (North Central Arterial) at Arboretum.
Traffic was stopped and passers-by goggled at the sheer size of the gargantuan procession moved past the CBD, Wildenweide, Brackenham and Aquadene before navigating the Nseleni off-ramp.
But not everyone was thrilled at the sight – especially those who have called for heavy loads to be kept of the severely deteriorating R619 surface.
The road was originally designed to carry superloads, but over-usage and lack of maintenance have taken their toll.
Endorsing a Zululand Observer lead story in Monday’s edition, in which the City council called for the R619 doubling and rehabilitation to urgently be put back on the agenda, Mike Patterson of the SA Roads Federation (SARF) said the upgrade was long overdue.
‘Having chaired the SARF Zululand for many years we have never doubted the importance of the R619 as this is the main route for most traffic moving to or from the North including to access the Port of Richards Bay.
‘The fact that the John Ross is being upgraded cannot be used as a reason to ignore this overloaded route,’ said Patterson.
‘When we met over the years with both national and provincial road authorities, in order to have John Ross treated as a provincial road, this was discussed but due to the fact that a large portion of the road was within the municipal boundary they claimed it was necessary for the Municipality to pay their share.
‘We have always believed that the same argument which was used to convince government to treat the John Ross as a strategically important provincial road should apply to the R619 and this upgrade should have preceded the work on the John Ross, which would have assisted with the traffic congestion that is still being experienced.
‘Council should make it clear to all that a substantial portion of the R619 is within the City boundaries and we cannot afford to upgrade this road without placing a burden on our ratepayers.
‘We should then make a formal approach to Province to treat this upgrade as urgent and enlist the support of the entire community to back this request as we did with the John Ross.
‘Large business and the relevant forums will certainly support the call.’
TUESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER
A slow-moving convoy has left the Port of Richards Bay and is presently wending its way along the R619 past Brackenham and Aquadene.
Expect delays at the Nseleni/N2 intersection and on the N2 North.
Carrying a 345-ton Eskom transformer, the abnormal load is scheduled to overnight at Umfol0zi tonight, Hluhluwe on Wednesday, Mkuze on Thursday and Pongola on Friday.
From there it heads to Piet Retief, Ermelo, Bethal, Delmas and finally the Kendall Power Station.
All travelling takes place between 6am and 6pm.
Updates to follow
