A new road that will link Port Elizabeth’s Kwazakhele and New Brighton townships directly to the N2 is on the cards.
The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality held a sod-turning event on Thursday to mark the start of the project, but construction of the 3.15km road will start only in two years’ time.
In the interim, the municipality will start widening Seyisi and Mahambehlala streets, which will link up to Grahamstown Road.
This is expected to ease traffic congestion to and from New Brighton.
Roads and transport portfolio head Rosie Daaminds said the construction of the new road was identified as a priority in the metro’s spatial development plan and the integrated transport plan.
“This was necessary to improve safe road access to the residential areas of Zwide, Kwazakhele and New Brighton to relieve traffic congestion, prevent unsafe crossing of the railway lines and to improve pedestrian access to Deal Party, while providing townships with direct access to the N2.”
The plan is to build a new intersection on Grahamstown Road – closer to Swartkops.
Once completed, the road would cross over the existing railway line between New Brighton and Swartkops, through the informal settlement of Qaqawuli.
Construction will affect wards 16, 19 and 21.
It will then connect to Mahambehlala and Seyisi streets, and eventually to Daku Road.
The project is expected to take up to seven years at a cost to the city of R180m.
Ward 16 councillor Xola Sabani said the plan had been in the pipeline for years.
He said he hoped the project would create jobs for the community and opportunities for emerging businesses.
“We’ve never had issues of residents stopping and delaying projects in this ward.
“All EMEs [emerging micro enterprises] in the ward will have jobs, but please don’t call your brother in Ngqushwa to come get jobs.”
Ward 19 councillor Gamalihleli Maqula said there should be no fighting over jobs because all members of the three wards would get their share.