Several interventions will address congestion on Bayhead Road

A traffic accommodation
programme is due to kick
off in the first week of May,
as construction continues on
the Bayhead Road – the only
access to all the terminal
facilities at the Port of
Durban.
This programme,
looking at the Bayhead/
Iran/Trinidad intersection,
will be introduced in four
phases over a period of
approximately two weeks,
according to Solly Kuppan,
transportation planner at the
Aurecon Group – the civil
engineers in charge of the
road upgrading project. And
it will remain in place until
further notice (for at least
four months), he added.
“The traffic
accommodation will mainly
impact traffic entering and
leaving the Cutler Complex
(Port Entrance 11) from
Trinidad Road,” said Kuppan.
“And, in conjunction with
the traffic accommodation,
and with reference to
National Key Point
Legislation, the importance
of keeping Bayhead Road
free of congestion is
critical to ensure access for
emergency vehicles should
the need arise.
“Therefore, any truck
breakdowns between
Langeberg Road, Pier 1
and Iran Road will be
towed away (at no cost to
the owners) to a nearby
location, mitigating possible
congestion. To this end, a
tow truck will be on site full
time from May 2011.
Referring to the
implementation of the traffic
accommodation, Kuppan
detailed the areas of road
under construction to be
watched:
• Narrowing of Bayhead
Road with barriers,
signage and new road
markings adjacent to
Cutler Complex (Island
View Storage) to allow
a single-lane dual
carriageway only. No
stopping will be permitted
(Metro Police to enforce);
• The existing Bayhead
Road will be widened
by the removal of the
guardrail along the
western shoulder from
Gary Frost Road through
to Iran Road and will be
temporarily converted
into a three-lane, one-way,
northbound road heading
towards Pier 1;
• In the right-hand lane
limited parking will be
available for trucks on the
western shoulder of the
road;
• The middle northbound
lane will be dedicated to
vehicles coming from the
south going to Iran Road
and the Cutler Complex
only;
• The left lane will be for
vehicles heading to Pier
1 only;
• Traffic heading south
from Pier 1, Cutler and
Iran Rd, will use a newly
constructed section of
road for approximately
300 metres before joining
up with the current
Bayhead Road alignment.
“Transport operators
and drivers should note
the lane configurations
and new positioning of
stop lines,” Kuppan said.
“There will be suitable early
warning signage and road
marking erected prior to the
changeover.
“It should also be noted
that ‘no stopping’ signage
and road markings are
to be strictly policed to
ensure minimal delay and
safety of all road users.
Please ensure compliance.”
Meantime, parking for
light motor vehicles for
visitors arranging Cutler
security permits has already
been relocated to the western
side of Iran Road. “Visitors
are to use the provided
pedestrian crossing at the
Cutler entrance to get to
the permit office in a safe
manner,” said Kuppan.
He also stressed that,
where possible, the use of
an alternative route during
the construction period
would limit congestion
and was therefore strongly
encouraged.
The traffic accommodation
programme is detailed in the
latest Bru Newsletter, with
appropriate diagrams noting
the relevant road sections
and areas highlighted in the
text, and this is available
from Solly Kuppan at solly.
kuppan@gmail.com