Update

GEORGE NUUS - Die kontrakteur het tydens die huidige herbou van Caledonstraat, gedeeltes van die sypaadjie aan weeskante gebruik as deel van die verkeers bestuurplan om toegang tot aangrensende eiendomme te gee. Dit het tot aansienlike skade aan die sydpaadjies gely wat wel al oud was, en nie in ‘n ideale toestand nie. Aanvanklik is daar beplan om slegs die beskadigde plaveisel te vervang en die sypaadjie tot sy oorspronklike toestand te herstel- dit wil sê geen oorbou of opgradering nie.

Gegewe die verweerde toestand van die meerderheid van die verouderde plaveistene, sowel as die skade tydens konstruksie, is dit genoodsaak om die sypaadjie oppervlak te vervang. Die ou blokplaveisel is nie meer beskikbaar op die mark en enige inlaswerk was dus nie moontlik nie.

Caledonstraat vorm deel van die GO GEORGE publieke busdiens netwerk. Die herbou van Caledonstraat en die sypaadjies word deur die nasionale GIPTN toelaag befonds. Een van die voorwaardes van die nasionale befondsing (gepubliseer in die DORA) is dat die GO GEORGE diens aan universele toegangklikheids beginsels moet voldoen. Daar moet voldoen word aan die gestelde voorwaardes van enige befondsing wat deur ‘n munisipaliteit ontvang word.

Met die herbou van enige sypaadjies op GO GEORGE roetes moet universele toegangklikheid beginsels met betrekking tot die oppervlaktes toegepas word. Asfalt is die voorkeur materiaal aangesien blokplaveisel onder andere ‘n struikelgevaar inhou indien daar enige sakking, ligging (deur wortels ens.) of ander skade aan die blokke voorkom.

Beton kantstroke word voorsien aan weeskante van ‘n asfalt sypaadjie. Dit delinieer die loopvlak en skep ‘n duidelike kontras wat meer sigbaar is (donker asphalt en ligte kantstrook). Sig gestremdheid is ‘n groot faktor wat in ag geneem moet word in universele toegangklikheid. Nelson Mandela Boulevard asook Yorkstraat loopvlakke is met asfalt geplavei.

Volgens die GIPTN riglyne, moet sypaadjies sover moontlik breed genoeg wees omvoetgangers en Nie-Gemotoriseerde Vervoer (NMV) te akkomodeer vir veiligheids doeleindes. George se straatinfrastruktuur het tans weinig min voorsiening vir fietsbane. Die ideaal is om afsonderlike fietsrybane te hê asook afsonderlike voetgangpaadjies om alle moontlike konflik uit te wis en te minimiseer.

Die Kraaibosch paaiemeesterplan bevat die beginsel van asfalt sypaadjies met kantstroke, en die Welgelegen toegangspad voldoen ook aan hierdie beginsel.

In die geval van Caledonstraat gebruik meeste fietsryers die padbane gegewe die hoeveelheid interseksies (die publiek wie die sypaadjies gebruik moet by elke interseksie stop voordat hulle ‘n straat kruis). Fietsryers wie die sypaadjie gebruik is hoofsaaklik ouers wat met jonger kinders fietsry, of fietsryers wie onseker is oor hulle veiligheid. Die gebruik van sypaadjies deur alle NMV word ondersteun.

Gesprekke met die universele toeganglikheid provinsiale konsultante het gelei tot die ontwerp wat tans voorgele word. Dit is ‘n vereiste dat universele toegangklikheid met die indien van alle GIPTN befondsde projekte nagegaan moet word om seker te maak dat dit voldoen. Hierdie proses is ook gevolg met die Merrimanstraat en Missionstraat opgraderings wat tans onder konstruksie is.

Die Raad het ‘n Universele Toegangklikheid Verklaring van Voorneme op 26 Feb 2016 goedgekeur en onderskeid tussen verskillende buurte word nie aanbeveel nie.

HilLand Environmental Consultants CC help tans met die publieke proses om inwoners in kennis te stel van die voorgeneme sypaadjie opgradering. Stuur asseblief enige kommentaar na die epos address admin@hilland.co.za of skakel 82 305 5097. 

New universally accessible sidewalks for Caledon Street
During the current reconstruction of Caledon Street, the contractor used portions of the sidewalk on both sides of the road as part of the traffic management plan to provide access to properties. The sidewalks consequently suffered considerable damage with many of the paving blocks already old and not in an ideal condition. Initially, the plan was to only replace the damaged pavers and repair it to the original state - ie no rebuild or upgrading. However given the poor condition of the majority of the paving blocks, as well as damage caused during construction, it is necessary to replace the full sidewalk surfacing. The original concrete blocks are no longer available on the market and as such it is not possible to simply replace damaged blocks.

Caledon Street forms part of the GO GEORGE public bus service network. The rebuilding of Caledon Street and the sidewalks is funded by GIPTN Grant funding. One of the conditions of national funding (published in the DORA) is that the GO GEORGE service must adhere to Universal Access principles. The stipulated conditions of any grant funding received by a municipality must be met.

With the rebuilding of any sidewalks on a GO GEORGE route, universal access principles must be applied to the surfaces. Asphalt is the preferred material as block pavers pose a tripping hazard when pavers sag or lift due to roots, dislodging, etc.

Concrete edge strips are places on either side of the asphalt sidewalk thereby also delineating the walking surface. The edging creates a clear contrast that is more visible (dark asphalt and light concrete band). Sight impairment is a major consideration when designing for a universally accessible solution. Asphalt sidewalks have recently been provided along Nelson Mandela Boulevard and York Street.

According to the GIPTN guidelines, sidewalks should wherever possible be wide enough to accommodate pedestrians and non-motorized transport (NMT) for safety purposes. George's street infrastructure currently offers very little provision for bicycle lanes. The ideal is to have separate cycle paths as well as separate pedestrian pathways to eradicate and minimize all possible conflict.

The Kraaibosch Roads Master plan includes the principle of asphalt sidewalks with concrete edge strips, and the Welgelegen access road also complies with this principle.

In the case of Caledon Street, most cyclists use the roadway given the number of intersections (pedestrians who use the pavements must stop at each intersection before crossing a street). Cyclists who use the sidewalks are mainly parents who ride with younger children, or those who are concerned for their safety. The use of sidewalks by all NMT is supported.

Discussions with provincial universal access consultants led to the current design being presented. It is a requirement that universal access must be reviewed prior to the implementation of all GIPTN funded projects to ensure compliance. This process was followed for the Merriman Street and Mission Street upgrades currently under construction.

The George Council approved a Universal Access Statement of Intent on February 26, 2016, and any varying standards in different neighbourhoods is not recommended. HilLand Environmental Consultants CC is currently helping the public to inform residents of the proposed sidewalk upgrade. Please send any comments to the email address admin@hilland.co.za or call 82 305 5097.

Lees vorige artikels hier:

• Update: Caledon Street
• Update: Caledon Street road upgrades
• Road upgrades recommence
• Caledon Street rehabilitation and upgrade
• Caledon Street update
• Baffling Caledon Street closure questioned
• Caledon Street rehabilitation update
• Caledon Street road works update
• Caledon Street road works: Changes to traffic access 
• Caledon Street update
• Darling Street has been closed to traffic
• Caledon Street: Temporary closure
• Caledon Street roadworks update
• Caledon Street update
• Patience asked for upgrade
• Big machinery for upgrade tonight
• Roadworks on Caledon to end in November
• Caledon Street closed on Monday 

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