Traffic Issues
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Response to Ward 90 Road Safety public meeting, 6 May 2008
Herewith our priority list for streets and intersections that require speed humps, zebra crossings, robots, signage and/or various traffic calming infrastructure. The Association is currently doing a survey of residents’ views on various matters that affect the suburbs, and the response thus far indicates that after crime, traffic management/calming and street maintenance is the second biggest issue.
Craighall and Craighall Park are particularly vulnerable to substantial increased traffic volumes – there are no less than 13 roads leading directly on to Jan Smuts Avenue and the amount of ‘rat-running’ through both suburbs has reached unacceptable proportions, particularly as many motorists exceed the speed limit.
We thus welcome this opportunity to put forward our list.
1.Traffic circles:
(i) cnr Lancaster and Clarence Avenues, Craighall Park (CP)
Reason: Due to shops and high density flats in the vicinity this is a very busy intersection and not pedestrian friendly. Visibility is often blocked by large delivery trucks.
(ii)cnr Bompas Rd , Rutland & Northumberland Ave, CP (to include speed humps on each approach to the circle).
Reason: This is a T-junction. The perimeter wall of the house directly in front of the junction has been smashed into on more than one occasion. The volume of traffic has probably quadrupled in the past 3 years, with motorists in part avoiding the Bompas/Jan Smuts intersection. As there is no pavement along the left side of Rutland Avenue just before it meets Bompas, and visibility is poor due to a sharp curve in the road, this intersection is also very dangerous for pedestrians.
(iii) We would like the traffic circle on the cnr of Portland Ave and Westminster Ave , CP, removed (but leaving the speed humps in place). Portland Ave to have a stop street at this junction to discourage rat-running and congestion, and to make it easier for pedestrians to cross Portland Ave.
2.Speed humps
The volume of traffic through Craighall and Craighall Park , much of it on streets that used to be relatively quiet, is of major concern. Linked to the high crime rate in the area, we request that all exits from Craighall and Craighall Park have the highest speed humps permissible – this will act as a deterrent for speeding vehicles, hopefully reduce some ‘rat-running’ and make it more difficult for criminals trying to make a quick get-away. (The size of the humps should be modelled on the hump on Rothesay Avenue , CP, just off Jan Smuts Ave and adjacent to the entrance to The Colony Shopping Centre.)
Such speed/security humps are, in order of priority:
(i) Cnr Buckingham Ave and Jan Smuts;
(ii) Alexandra Rd, Craighall – several bumps are needed along the length of this road. Again traffic has increased considerably, not only because of higher density complexes but also because of taxis using it as a short cut, particularly when Jan Smuts Ave is busy.
(iii) Humps on the following roads, just before they intersect with Jan Smuts Ave (CP):
Montrose Ave
Rutland Ave
St Albans Ave
Abercorn Ave
Plus in Craighall:
Waterfall Ave , between the intersection with Talbrager Ave and just before Second Ave of Hyde Park .
In addition, all the existing speed humps in Buckingham Ave , between Jan Smuts and Norfolk Aves, have worn down and need to be redone. (See annexure 1.)
3.Road markings /signs
(i) Athole Ave , Craighall: to have a solid white line between Douglas and Waterfall Avenues. (Motorists, particularly taxis, overtake and often remain on the wrong side of the road). “No overtaking” signs required.
(ii) A “no trucks permitted” sign at the junction of Lancaster & Grosvenor Aves. (This is to deter large delivery trucks for Pick n Pay using this route – they should use either Grosvenor or Buckingham only if they are doing another delivery in the suburb, otherwise they should return to Jan Smuts Ave. )
(iii) All existing speed humps and traffic circles need to be repainted and 40 kph signs erected.
[NOTE: one year ago some were repainted. We suspect that the contractors used inferior paint as it has already faded significantly. We hope that JRA does quality checks.]
(iii) The road sign on the cnr of Sutherland & Buckingham Aves is missing.
Cnr Grafton & Sutherland Ave – road sign has been defaced.
Residents have requested that road names on kerbs, also indicating the street numbers, be reinstated.
This list is not comprehensive and may be added to.
4.Pavements
Widen the pavement at the corner of Burnside Crescent and Athole Avenue (the sharp corner makes it dangerous for pedestrians as the pavement is too narrow).
Many pavements are unusable by pedestrians, particularly where there is illegal dumping of rubble. This is an urgent plea for greater law enforcement – a few fines for the worst offenders would act as a deterrent. (Reports of current unusable pavements include 51 & 59 Rothesay Ave , 21, 14, 24 Lancaster Ave , 53, 80 & 124 Hamilton Ave , CP.)
5.Resurfacing of roads/mending potholes
Roads that are in particularly bad condition and need resurfacing are:
Westminster Drive
Rutland Ave between Clarence & Buccleuch
Lancaster Ave/cnr Jan Smuts – adjacent to Pick n Pay & McDonalds.
Bompas Road/Jan Smuts intersection
Anyone who has to travel in this vicinity will know that this intersection is a disaster. Accidents occur on almost a daily basis. A very real consequence is the additional traffic that now flows through Craighall Park on roads which were never designed for such traffic volumes.
We understand that this matter was first raised over 7 years ago and we believe that it cannot be left unattended any longer. A partial solution would be to prohibit vehicles from turning into Bompas from the Dunkeld Shopping Centre exit closest to Jan Smuts, ie permit access only: there are 3 other points from which an exit can be made so there is no good reason to have one here. Is there any reason why a left turn lane into Jan Smuts cannot be created using a small part of the Centre’s parking area? Also, the right turn lane needs to be made longer: at present it accommodates only 4 cars. A longer right only lane would also help prevent the motorists, particularly taxis, that use the right hand side of the road, creating havoc as they get forced into the queue by the traffic coming down.
Annexures:
Annexure 1: Letter from a resident in Buckingham Avenue , CP
Annexure 2: Precinct map indicating where humps etc are required
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