Traffic nightmare in the Polokwane CBD

The city of Polokwane municipality has warned traffic dilemmas currently experienced in the city centre will be lengthy as contractors continue with the rehabilitation of roads.
The roadworks are already affecting thousands of people traveling daily in cars and public transport.

Municipal spokesperson Tshidiso Mothapo told Pride News that the roads have to be rehabilitated as most of them have already reached their design lifespan.
“It may be chaotic for now, and causing some delays in mov- ing around the CBD but it is for the best,” says Mothapo.

He says R111 million has been budgeted for the asset renewal programme in the urban areas to try to reduce the backlog.
“The remainder of the backlog on the rehabilitation of streets in the city will be dealt with in two financial years – 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 through a concession programme,” he says.
However, motorists around the CBD have expressed mixed feelings over the ongoing road rehabilitation project in the city centre.

Taxi driver Solomon Raphala says it is difficult to get to the taxi rank during peak hours owing to sluggish traffic. Noting the impact it has on the taxi business, peak hours is when they make the most profit under normal circumstances.

For the efficiency of the project, Raphala says the municipality should have requested the taxi association to move out of the CBD, especially on Devenish and other streets that lead to the taxi rank.

Another taxi driver, Clifford Mojela who was driving along Thabo Mbeki Street says he spent 30 minutes driving out of the CBD to Pretoria. “I did not know that they are reconstructing the roads in the city. I would have used the off-ramp to avoid the delay,” he speaks showing frustration.

This has also affected some businesses in the CBD on streets which have been closed. John Seakamela who runs an internet café on Schoeman Street notes that since the street is closed his business is also affected, “only people who know about my business and those who are pedestri- ans come to my office.”

A little out of the CBD, Mothapo says the rehabilitation of Magazyn Street between Suid and Hospital Street is earmarked for completion in November 2017.

He says Thabo Mbeki Street, Nelson Mandela Traffic Circle and Schoeman Street projects started in August 2017 and is envisaged to be completed by De- cember 2017.

Mothapo calls on road users to familiarise themselves with the lane reductions in the city centre, to plan their journeys in advance and to consider alterna-tive routes.

By Jeffrey Mogale