Thembalethu bridge lane closure

Update

GEORGE NEWS - For Thembalethu resident Msasazi Bangiso, like thousands of other regular users of the Thembalethu bridge, the widening of the bridge is most heartening as it will make their lives easier.

Traffic congestion on the bridge, especially during peak hours, is extremely inconvenient and frustrating for residents and businesses.

"This project is long overdue," says Bangiso. "The traffic jams early in the morning make life difficult. Large numbers of vehicles come in and out of Thembalethu and those people who work over the bridge in town must start travelling to work very early. Transport for school children is also adding more vehicles on the road, causing holdups."

In a recent notice, George Municipality said that in conjunction with the upgrade of the bridge, the interchange across the N2 in Nelson Mandela Boulevard will also be made into two lanes each way.

Construction on Thembalethu Bridge is being welcomed by regular road users who have been putting up with traffic congestion for very long. Photo: Zama Gagu

To enable the required construction works to take place, the following lane closures and/or lane shifting will be in place from 16 January in Mandela Boulevard:

Nelson Mandela Boulevard (southbound): Centre lane will be closed ±60m before the intersection with Vuyani Ncamazana Street and Main Street.

This will give two options:

• Right lane for a right turn into Vuyani Ncamazana Street.

• Left lane for a left turn or for going straight towards the N2/Thembalethu.

• On the other side of the intersection, traffic will be limited to a single lane for ±120m heading towards the N2.

Nelson Mandela Blvd (northbound): Traffic will be diverted into a single lane ±120m before the intersection with Vuyani Ncamazana Street and Main Street and continue normally after the intersection.

For enquiries, please contact the construction manager, Henry Horn, on 078 800 3246.

Road users must proceed with caution as certain lanes are closed in Mandela Blvd near the Main Road and Vuyani Mcamazana Street intersection. Photo: Zama Gagu