Creating an active and enjoyable learning environment is one of the approaches through which eThekwini Municipality is familiarizing learners with road safety, in an effort to reduce death tolls on South African roads.

The current statistics of fatalities on the country’s roads every year was recently announced by Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula where it emerged that 14 000 fatalities were recorded in the last financial year, costing the country R166 billion.

As part of the City’s pledge to save lives, eThekwini Transport Authority’s (ETA) school road safety awareness campaign is underway.

ETA officials, Metro Police and the City’s road safety ambassadors visited 10 schools between 7 and 16 October. During the programme, learners were taught the basics of road safety such as the correct procedure to follow when crossing the road and using public transport; in a fun, stimulating and memorable manner.

Schools located on the Corridor 3 route from Pinetown to Bridge City in KwaMashu were targeted as there is going to be a lot of activity with the GO!Durban programme.

According to ETA Head Thami Manyathi, creating an active and fun learning environment is critical to ensure a lasting and unforgettable education experience. “I was pleased that the learners portrayed eagerness to learn and were asking questions during the sessions.”

Manyathi further said there is about 800 primary schools in the eThekwini area and ETA plans to continue hosting such campaigns as this is envisaged to have a positive impact in increasing road safety awareness and in reducing child pedestrian accidents.

Furthermore, partnering with the South African National Taxi Council and other law enforcement agencies, ETA will also during this month conduct the road safety initiative in various taxi ranks to continue with the informative sessions aimed at changing drivers’ mindsets in a bid to decrease road crashes.

Motorists, commuters, pedestrians, public transport operators and residents in the Pinetown, New Germany, Wyebank, KwaDabeka, Clermont and Newlands areas are advised of the permanent closure of the link road between Cumnor Gardens and Dinkelman Road (MR577); for further construction of the new 11th Avenue interchange that will allow surrounding communities ease of access to the GO!Durban Bus Rapid Transit system.

The roads affected are: Dinkelman Road (MR577) North & South bound traffic that want to access Cumnor Gardens from MR577 and the traffic that want to access MR577 from Cumnor Gardens.

Traffic accommodation plans have been put in place and motorists are advised to familiarise themselves with these and proceed with caution on these alternate routes. Drivers are advised that this alternate route is through a residential area with schools, and should proceed carefully. Residents and pedestrians in the alternate route areas are advised to be mindful of the increase in traffic from this week onwards.

Vehicles travelling from the North – that is from Wyebank / KwaDabeka / Newlands and then along MR577 Dinkelman Road are to Continue South to the Shepstone Road / Otto Volek Road / Posselt Road Intersection and then to Turn right onto Shepstone Road and continue for 1260m.

Turn right onto Regent Street, and then turn right onto Sander Road and Continue on Sander Road for 1400m.

Turn right onto Westermeyer Road and continue to the stop street. Turn Right onto Berkshire Drive and continue for 200m. Turn left onto Cumnor Gardens.

Vehicles travelling from Cumnor Gardens to Dinkelman Road:

Continue on Cumnor Gardens and turn left onto Berkshire Drive. Continue South on Berkshire Drive to the Shepstone Road Intersection. Turn left onto Shepstone Road and continue to the Dinkelman Road Intersection. Turn left onto Dinkelman Road.

The eThekwini Transport Authority recommends that commuters aim to leave a little earlier than usual for their destinations to avoid any possible congestion.

 
Monday, 29 October 2018 marked a watershed moment for public transport in the eThekwini Municipality (ETM), as the City’s mini-bus taxi incentive programme “Moja Cruise”, a first for the country, went “live” with a parade of 150 branded taxis through the CBD.

 
Introducing the completed Mount Edgecombe block interchange that will be ushering in better flowing traffic. It will also support economic development in the northern part of the city and make traveling in and around the area much more easier.

Businesses, residents, motorists and commuters in Durban’s central CBD are to be mindful that Dr Pixley KaSeme Street (formerly West) will be closed to traffic from Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street (formerly Grey) where the N3 intersects, up to Samora Machel Street (formerly Aliwal) at the City Hall on Monday, 29 October from 8:30am to 09:30 . Thereafter, limited lanes on Dr Pixley Kaseme Street outside the City Hall will be available from 09:30 to 11:30.

The closure is to enable a parade of 150 Mini-Bus Taxis through the central CBD to the City Hall, to mark the beginning of the City’s public transport transformation.

Last year in October the Ethekwini Municipality launched its Taxi Incentive Scheme, named Moja Cruise, an innovative programme aimed at uplifting the Mini-Bus Taxi Industry and improving their business operations.

The scheme was designed in collaboration with the Ethekwini Management Taxi Council (EMTC) – the official partner of the programme, and includes, improved customer care, assures roadworthy vehicles and promotes better driving.

Whilst the parade is taking place, Metro police will indicate alternate routes for motorists, however, citizens should also be mindful of a longer commute time on the roads that the vehicles will travel on to get to Dr Pixley KaSeme Street. The route the vehicles will take to the start of the parade is from the ICC into Bram Fischer Road, left into Soldier’s Way, then right into Monty Naicker and left into Yusuf Dadoo and left into Dr Pixley KaSeme Street.

As construction of another dedicated bus lane for the GO!Durban integrated public transport network starts this month (October 2018) on the M21 from the intersection with the MR577 in Newlands to Springfield Park, businesses, residents and schools are asked to take note of the areas under construction, and any traffic accommodation and deviations that may come into effect as a result.

This route, called Corridor 1 (C1) is part of the overall network that eThekwini Municipality is rolling out over a number of years to improve public transport for all. At present the first route, called C3, is nearing completion from Pinetown to Bridge City via the MR577 and this C1 route will eventually connect the MR577 to the CBD via Springfield Park. The C1 construction will be divided into two phases: C1A from the MR577 to Springfield and C1B from Springfield to the CBD. Construction will only begin this month on the C1A section, as is expected to take 24 months.

“We are asking people who live, work and visit this area to be mindful of the construction for their own safety and the safety of those working on the roads,” says Thami Manyathi, Head of the eThekwini Transport Authority. “Of course, we know that any construction on an existing roadway creates delays, and is often inconvenient and frustrating for those who use the roads, and live or work alongside. We ask for people’s patience, and understanding as we strive to improve public transport for all, and ultimately upgrade the existing roadway, which will undoubtedly have positive outcomes for all living and working here. We recommend that during this construction phase that people make plans to start their journey earlier, and to possibly look at alternate routes. We also recommend that all valuables are kept out of sight of opportunistic criminals, who often take advantage of the slow moving traffic to target unsuspecting commuters.”

Members of the public using the M21 between the MR577 and Springfield Park are advised that traffic will be slower than usual, roadways will be narrowed to allow for construction, and to be mindful that there are heavy construction vehicles in operation.

The eThekwini Transport Authority has already been engaging with affected wards to explain the plans, and will host two further community engagements. These take place on Sunday, 21 October from 2 to 4pm at the David Landau Hall, Asherville for Ward 25 and on Monday, 22 October from 10am to 12 noon at the Greenwood Park Hall, 726 Chris Hani Road, Greenwood Park for Ward 34.

For more information or to keep up to date on construction and road deviation/ accommodation plans go to godurban.local:8890 or follow us on Twitter/ Facebook and Instagram.