One of the busiest roads in Nelson Mandela Bay will soon become much easier to navigate as three traffic circles currently being constructed on this road, are set to be completed within the next few months.
Circular Drive, known for its heavy traffic flow during peak hours but also mostly throughout the rest of the day, has been a concern for Ward 8 councillor, Gustav Rautenbach, for almost 20 years.
According to Rautenbach, since he became a councillor in the early 2000s, this road has been on his mandate and he had been campaigning for interventions to ensure the safety of motorists and better traffic flow.
“In 2016, it became part of ward 6 and now a section of the road falls under ward 8, whilst the remaining section is in ward 6.
“I am ecstatic that upgrades are being done after all these years. There will now be fewer frustrations for motorists and these traffic circles will reduce the time spent in traffic,” Rautenbach said.
He explained that three circles are currently being constructed at the following spots: the intersection on the corner of Carrington Road and Circular Drive, outside Build It in Circular Drive and at the entrance to the Gardens Centre, also in Circular Drive.
He confirmed that pedestrian humps, not speed humps, will also be erected at two of the circles, the one at the Carrington Road intersection as well as the Gardens Centre entrance.
“The traffic lights at Carrington Road will be taken away and a slip road will be constructed that turns left into Circular Drive. There will also be a traffic island in the middle of the road,” Rautenbach explained.
“Circular Drive is a main road that connects the western suburbs with those in the east; this will really ease traffic flow, which will in turn make it a safer road. It will also address bottlenecks on this road.”
The traffic circles will take approximately two months to complete, weather permitting.
Ward 6 Councillor, Gert Engelbrecht, said that in addition to the traffic circles, one side of Circular Drive would also consist of only double lanes all the way up to William Moffett Expressway.
“This, along with the traffic circles, will surely make travelling on this road easier. At the moment, when it is around 17:00 and you’re in the middle of the peak hour, you could be stuck in traffic for longer than an hour on this road.
“Circular Drive links different main areas and this will definitely bring about better traffic flow. The double lanes will also make it easier for residents residing in Circular Drive, to get out of their driveways,” Engelbrecht said.
Construction of the double lanes is scheduled to start around June or July this year.
