Mbombela traffic circle crashes: SANRAL acts

Issued by SANRAL
Pretoria, Mar 15, 2018

SANRAL is concerned about reports of crashes at the two roundabouts - or traffic circles - on the R37 (Mbombela), and is urgently assessing possible measures to improve the situation.

These will include an engineering assessment of the adequacy of the design of the roundabouts.

Measures to improve early warning and improved visibility will include lighting. However, no power was ever supplied to the roundabouts, in spite of erection of the lighting masts in the past. The Mbombela local municipality has indicated that power will not be provided in the short term due to financial constraints. As a result, SANRAL will investigate alternative interim arrangements for power supply and lighting.

Further measures under consideration will include painting of the kerbing and a full review of early warning road signs and road markings.

SANRAL will also engage with the provincial traffic officials for proper speed and other law enforcement as excessive speed from the north, and possibly also unstable loads on trucks, are potentially among the major contributory factors to crashes.

The two roundabouts as well as the section of the new P166 from them towards the Mbombela stadium were constructed by the provincial Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This section was later declared by SANRAL as a national road and thus falls under its jurisdiction.

* SANRAL has consulting engineers and contractors responsible on a permanent maintenance basis for the R37 and P166. Their contact details are:

Consulting engineers: SNA Civil and Structural Engineers - contact person Francois Burger at (083) 459 1262 or [email protected].

Contractor: Penny-Farthing Engineering SA - contact person Dean Romer at (082) 772 5232 or [email protected].

The public or any other concerned party is welcome to refer any further concerns or comments to the above persons, or alternatively to SANRAL's Project Manager, Madoda Mthembu at (083) 383 7320 or [email protected].