Seven concrete road barriers, which have been on the Voortrekker Road bridge overpass for almost a decade, are causing traffic congestion and the bridge itself poses a hazard, say Salt River residents.
Mayoral committee member for urban mobility Rob Quintas says the barriers were used to close a lane on the bridge after a fire underneath it in around December 2015 badly damaged the abutment next to one of the bridge bearings.
While the City is responsible for road maintenance on the bridge, the bridge structure is the responsibility of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), according to Mr Quintas.
“The City considered the industrial activity in the area and the heavy vehicles which operate here and decided to reduce the lane to minimise the threat to motorists should the pier puncture the underside of the bridge as a result of the damaged bearing,” he said.
Members of the Salt River Woodstock Walmer Steering Committee complained that nothing had been done since 2015 to address the matter further.
“If this was in any upper-class area, they would have addressed the situation ages ago. I have made it quite clear to the councillor in a public meeting that should anything occur that we will keep them accountable,” said committee chairperson Sedick Soeker.
Mr Soeker said the community should be part of any discussion about the issue between the City and Prasa.
Committee member Nazmie Jamodien said the delay compromised the safety of both motorists and pedestrians and caused “significant traffic congestion, especially during peak hours”.
Furthermore, large trucking companies were using the road parks alongside the road, closing one lane and exacerbating the congestion, he said.
He also criticised the City for adding an apron to the Salt River circle, which he said had narrowed the road and caused further congestion (“Salt River road changes irk residents,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, June 27) The money spent on that project could have been used to fix the bridge, he said.
Salt River Heritage Society chairperson Lutfi Omar said: “It’s almost 10 years and between the City and Prasa there has been no progress in resolving this matter. In the meantime, the vibrations of the trucks are causing the bridge to deteriorate further.”
Salt River Residents’ Association member Warda Rahim said removing the concrete barriers would open another lane for motorists and ease congestion.
Ward 115 councillor Ian McMahon said he had been in contact with both the City officials and Prasa over the issue.
“I have sent emails and presented them to the residents at their stakeholders’ meeting and informed them that the City is in discussions to get these addressed. In my meeting with Prasa, they said they didn’t believe it was their responsibility,” he said.
Mr Quintas said Prasa had recently notified the City that “significant progress has been made in the appointment of a contractor to repair the bridge”.
Prasa spokesperson Zinobulali Mihi confirmed the bridge was one of six belonging to Prasa/Metrorail Western Cape that would be rehabilitated in the months to come.
