Spotlight on Madiba Drive

GEORGE NEWS - Since the first reports on the Wilderness bus accident hit the Group Editors websites last weekend, a question posed by many is why Saasveld Road, or Madiba Road as it has been renamed, has not yet been reopened.

During the floods of November 2021 six months ago, a massive sinkhole appeared in the road leading to the Nelson Mandela University George Campus, and repairs are still underway.

Residents say the tragic accident on Saturday 21 May may have been prevented if the bus driver had the option to take the Saasveld Road to join the N2, rather than the Seven Passes and steep Heights Road - a challenge to negotiate in the dark with its narrow, winding road.

Saasveld Road

Jandré Bakker, provincial communications head for the Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW), gave an update on the roadworks on the Saasveld Road, which is undertaken by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) on behalf of DTPW through an agency agreement.

"The Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) can mention that the reinstatement due to flood damage is not done overnight," said Bakker.

"Work of this extensive nature can take up to 12 months to complete. There are concerted efforts to have it done in a shorter time period. The backfill to the pipe culvert is several metres deep and the backfill is brought up in layers of 150mm to 200mm at a time, which is a time-consuming process in the constrained area considering that only certain plant can operate in the area.

"Placing of the pipe also took a considerable amount of time because of its size and length and working in a constrained area. A concrete bedding also had to be constructed."

Speeding, policing

One of the Wilderness residents complained about a lack of traffic calming measures, no additional signage and no visible policing on Heights and Whites Road.

"I can vouch for the fact that there are numerous transgressions along Whites and Heights on a daily basis. Virtually nobody sticks to the speed limit, including the busses that ferry students to NMU," said the resident.

ALSO READ: Opvolg: Heights Road oop vir verkeer

The complainant acknowledged that both roads are indeed provincial roads, but stressed the fact that George municipal traffic officers have been seen on the N2.

Acting Traffic Manager Vernon Petersen, however, said George municipal traffic officials do not have the authority to act on provincial roads, including the N2, unless requested to provide assistance to the provincial traffic department with specific activations. "Please note Whites and Heights Road do not form part of our regular patrol schedule," said Petersen.

Bakker said where a road is deemed inappropriate for specific vehicles, warning/restriction signs are erected, prohibiting use by those vehicles.

"The DTPW can confirm that the WRRA [Wilderness Residents and Ratepayers Association] queried the appropriateness of the posted speed limits and signage on Heights and Whites roads, last year. The responsible team undertook an investigation in this regard and found that the existing road traffic signs are sufficient in line with applicable norms and standards," said Bakker.

"The WRRA also asked that DTPW introduce traffic calming in the form of all-way stops, which the team indicated is not congruent with responsible traffic engineering practice. All road users should adjust their driving behaviour according to the road conditions. Traffic law enforcement is done based on available resources and in line with data which include, but is not limited to, traffic volumes and historic transgression statistics."

The deck of a residential home next to Heights Road was destroyed when a bus came crashing down a nearby embankment, onto private property. Photo: Francesca Roberts

The deck of a residential home next to Heights Road was destroyed when a bus came crashing down a nearby embankment on Saturday evening. Photo: Francesca Roberts