First Traffic jam . . . already frustrated Langebaan motorists this morning had no option but to wait (im)patiently while a delivery truck (horse and trailer) that could not manoeuvre the sharp turn into the narrow Swemmer Park entrance, offloaded stock.
This is the first practical proof of the dilemma about which business owners along Oostewal Street have been warning the road construction team and municipal officials all along.
Barry Hofmeyr, owner of Pets 4 all, said he had at numerous public participation meetings since last year mentioned the fact that his delivery truck will have no-where to pull off for deliveries and will thus be forced to block the road.
“Municipal officials and engineers recently paid me a visit to find out the size of my delivery truck and admitted then that it would be a problem. They asked me why I did not mention it before – while I did emphasize it at every road construction meeting since the public participation process started.I also forewarned them that the specific truck is due for deliveries today. They said they will arrange something, but nothing was done. It was not even a big delivery, but it took an hour to off-load,” he said.
Traffic officials tried in vain to re-direct traffic this morning. Although the truck was parked against the pavement, no vehicle could pass it on the narrow road. It was agreed then that the entrance to Swemmer Park will have to be widened by removing a part of the pavement and one of the decorative palm trees, but that will still not solve the exit problem.
RJM Civils resident engineer, David Byers, told shop owner Judith Breytenbach this afternoon that the widening of the entrance will only be done in January 2017. “Does that mean that delivery trucks will be blocking the main road up till January next year . . . ?” she asked.
Meanwhile, another beleaguered shop – Coastal Electrical – allegedly was forced to collect their deliveries outside Langebaan since the truck was unable to enter the town due to the road construction work.
Residents are also worried about what will happen when the Sleigh Street crossing is closed for tarring. Construction work at the crossing already caused delays this morning and motorists wonder what detours will have to be taken when this central crossing is closed.
Although construction work has noticeably sped up since the appointment of consulting engineer Etienne Swanepoel a month ago, there is wide-spread concern that the road works might not be completed by the anticipated deadline on 6 December . . .
The pictures tell the story . . .
Also read our previous stories about the road construction fiasco:
No vehicle could pass the truck . . .
The truck is parked against the sidewalk
The central Sleigh Street crossing must still be tarred . . .
Traffic jam at Sleigh Street crossing . . .
Will the road be completed before the projected deadline on 6 December 2016?
