Road disruptions far from over

MOTORISTS who are frustrated with traffic congestion and roadworks on two of Nelson Mandela Bay's busiest roads will have to be patient for at least two more months as construction is running behind schedule.

Contractors working on John Tallant Road near Deal Party, and Koyana Street in Zwide, will miss their June 30 deadlines due to several setbacks, including sitestoppages by disgruntled small medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).

This was revealed during site inspections by the municipality's infrastructure and engineering committee yesterday. The councillors visited several sites undergoing construction to ascertain if they were running on schedule.

They visited Koyana Road, Fishwater Flats, John Tallant Road, Motherwell NU12 and NU30, and gravel roads being tarred in Uitenhage.

The construction of Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) lanes on Koyana Street has resulted in the entire road being closed off to motorists. It is a nightmare during peak hours as motorists have to use the narrow backroads in Zwide.

Both lanes in Koyana Road have been closed for about a month. Project manager Lukholo Badi said the R35-million construction project was supposed to be finished by the end of this month, as the city had to spend its IPTS grant by the end of the financial year. - Rochelle de Kock