Inadequate e-toll alternatives 

The advent of e-tolls led the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport to publish a list of so-called ‘alternate' routes for those who cannot afford the tolls. These ‘alternative' roads do not offer viable alternative routes to the highways.

The lack of safe, reliable and affordable public transport alternatives should have been addressed prior to the concept of e-tolls to provide commuters with real alternatives.

One of the roads on this list of alternatives is Witkoppen Road which already carries a huge volume of traffic and has a collapsing bridge on a section of the road which severely narrows the already inadequate width.

Despite several prominent engineers having expressed serious concerns regarding motorists' safety and the weakened bridge's ability to withstand the run-off of the frequent Highveld thunderstorms, nothing has been done to remedy the problem. When I inquired as to the reasons for the delay, I was told it would be going out to tender ‘soon'.

I hope no lives are lost before this process is complete as the blame for any loss of life will then rest squarely on the shoulders of Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Vadi.

Statement issued by Neil Campbell, DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Roads and Transport, December 3 2013

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