Hauliers bite the bullet as Bayhead construction begins

The only access to the Port of Durban’s two container terminals – Pier 1 and Pier 2 – is under pressure again, as March 16 saw the start of construction of an additional lane to the Bayhead Road adjacent to the parabolic wall at Cutler Complex (Island View Storage). This, according to civil engineers Aurecon Group, sees traffic flow from Iran Road through to Pier 1 being sequentially reduced to one lane in either direction. But, the group’s transportation planner Solly Kuppan told FTW, the problem will be eased as much as possible with the use of construction signage, temporary road markings and flagmen signals. It’s the type of problem that is to be expected during the period of construction of the full-length dual carriageway on Bayhead Road all the way to Pier 1, reported Paul Rayner, MD of short-haul container carriers, DTB Cartage – while adding that the first day of the road narrowing had not caused his company any excess problems on the access road. “We will just have to bite the bullet in the short term, in anticipation of a better road in the longer term,” he said. Kevin Martin, chairman of the Durban Harbour Carriers’ Association (DHCA) section of the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff), agreed – while pointing out that there was constant communication of each step of the project from the planners/builders to the carriers and Transnet Port Terminals (the terminal managers). “It’s going to be a bit difficult for some time,” he said, “but we just have to bear the pain until we see the gain.” And, at the last meeting with the construction outfits, the carriers pointed out two possible options to ease the problems of the lack of traffic flow along Bayhead Road. “One option,” Martin told FTW, “is for trucks heading for Pier 1 to go through Pier 2 (on the current dual carriageway section of the access road) and access Pier 1 along the internal ring road. “Also, we have suggested that there is a possibility of the Island View Storage operations putting the continual stream of bulk tippers and fuel tankers on some sort of scheduled movement programme.” These options are currently waiting while TPT takes a decision on the first, and while the second is discussed between the Aurecon Group and the Island View management.