The safety of motorists and pedestrians, as well as the preservation of the road surface on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, got a boost with the opening of two strategic projects recently. At the end of Transport Month, Minister of Transport Joe Maswanganyi stopped over in Kwambonambi to open a truck weighbridge and a busy intersection.

The Minister launched the Eteza Traffic Control Centre and the KwaBhoboza Interchange on 31 October. Both were constructed by SANRAL at an investment of almost R500m.

The Eteza Traffic Control Centre will help curb the widespread overloading of trucks, which has resulted in marked deterioration of the province’s road network.

Damage to roads as a result of overloading leads to higher maintenance and repair costs and shortens the road’s lifespan. It places an additional burden on the state and law-abiding road users who ultimately then carry the cost of careless overloading.

At Eteza, heavy vehicles of more than five tons are weighed. Drivers of heavy vehicles will be issued a fine if the vehicle exceeds the permissible gross mass and/or axle unit mass. The overload control facility is also used to inspect the roadworthiness of vehicles on a 24-hour basis.

At KwaBhoboza, the existing intersection was very busy and the high speed of the vehicles travelling on the N2 made the crossing extremely dangerous, not only for motorists but also for pedestrians trying to cross at this intersection.

The improvements at the interchange have resulted in safer walkways for pedestrians and a reduction in incidents. In addition, taxi lay-byes and pedestrian facilities were provided within the interchange precinct. A new pedestrian fence on the road reserve within the Kwamsane community was also installed.

Dumisani Nkabinde, Operations and Maintenance Manager at SANRAL’s Eastern Region said that during preparation for the construction of the KwaBhoboza Interchange, SANRAL undertook a transportation study of the junction of the N2 within the Mtubatuba region.

The study, conducted around 2008/2009, reported that there were between 500 and 700 pedestrians daily crossing the N2 freeway unsafely, especially at the point where the new interchange is now built. Several serious and fatal accidents were witnessed weekly.

The report also revealed that due to the poor condition of community roads linking KwaMsane Township and the Mtubatuba town, motorists and pedestrians were being forced to use the N2 as the access road into town.

SANRAL addressed these road safety problems. The municipality was assisted in the construction of concrete internal collector roads by SMMEs at a cost of R21 million.

SANRAL also rehabilitated other community roads in the area after community members complained about flooding of their houses due to poorly

Minister Maswanganyi also addressed a community imbizo at the Amangwe Sports Field at KwaMbonambi.

He said the government’s investments in rail, roads and public transport were changing the way people accessed their places of work, study and entertainment. These investments also helped to grow the economy and address the challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.

"The transport sector is at the heart of the country’s development and it is my duty to ensure that South Africans have safe, reliable, affordable and convenient public transport."