Construction workers from both RJ Mullins Civil and Group Five have been working around the clock to ensure that Langebaan’s main road is completed and open for traffic before the festive days . . .
Their efforts paid off. On Sunday, the last truckloads of asphalt were delivered to finish the final stretch of the road to the R27, which will finally be open to traffic from tomorrow. Willem Heymans of Group Five said on Sunday they were just finishing the road markings for safety’s sake before opening the R27 entrance on Wednesday (tomorrow).
This marks the end of a chapter in a very long, costly and controversial road construction saga which forced local business owners to take legal action against the Saldanha Bay Municipality for loss of income suffered due to the poorly planned project.
Most of the shops along Oostewal Road were at some stage completely cut off from the main traffic for variable periods of time as no provision for service roads to provide constant access to shops was made in the original planning.
The worst affected shop owners claim losses of up to 80% of their monthly income as a direct result of the prolonged construction work that, at times, also caused unbearable sand and dust pollution for months on end. A great deal of the delays were caused by the unavailability of underground service charts as well as alleged budget restraints of the consulting engineer Nadeson and contractor RJ Mullins Civil. Proprietors also question alleged irregularities in the tender process and demanded access to the relevant documents.
The detours that local residents and visitors were forced to take also caused frustration, confusion and financial loss – especially to those who daily had to drive the extra 28 km detour via the Saldanha Weigh bridge while the R27 entrance was closed.
The pending class action lawsuit that bellwethers Rocky and Judith Breytenbach have filed in conjunction with other affected proprietors against the SBM, is due to commence early in 2017.
♫ Round and around we go, riding in circles together♫
Meanwhile, the highly controversial “narrow lanes” and traffic circles that characterize the new, beautified Oostewal Road, have been a constant topic of discussion, black humour and controversy in the social media.
Snail-paced trucks that cause traffic jams because they cannot be overtaken, and motorists who negotiate the roundabouts on a “first come, first go” basis, already caused frayed tempers and concern.
Last Wednesday night, two youngsters were injured and their car written off when they hit the kerb at the Sleigh Street circle. On Saturday night, another vehicle landed across the circle at the entrance to Villa Diamante where it apparently inexplicably caught fire and burnt out.
Black tyre marks all along the kerbs in Oostewal Road are testimony to some drivers’ battle to stay within the “narrow roads” – especially late at night . . . .
These incidents so early in the festive season are a cause for concern and road users are urged to refrain from drinking and driving and to practise consideration and self control.
- The above also inspired the following FB post and comments on Langebaan Locals FB page:
Patrick Mettler
Vroeg reeds is dit duidelik dat die nuwe verkeersirkels in ons dorp ‘n geweldige karaktertoets vir baie van ons motoriste reeds is en nog sal wees. En die toets sluit karaktertrekke in soos eerbied vir verkeersreëls, hoflikheid, bedagsaamheid, geduld en selfdissipline. En dis nou reeds duidelik: nie alle motoriste in ons dorp en ook van ons besoekende vakansiegangers kan met trots sê: ek slaag alle aspekte van die toets nie. Kom ons hoop maar vir die beste.
Also read Mayor Marius Koen’s Christmas Message: