Truck congestion has been building up on the N2 around Meerensee and Alton, impacting residents as coal freight has been diverted to the road following the closure of the Northern corridor rail line after a train was derailed last week.
DA Ward Councillor for Alton, Christo Botha, said in a statement that trucks had been blocking both lanes coming into and out of Meerensee.
“Trucks are occupying both lanes coming into and out of Meerensee. Some people are unable to return home due to this problem. In fact, the queue runs from the vicinity of Alton,” Botha said.
“I had a follow-up discussion with the City manager, Mr Godfrey Zulu, about the chaotic scene on the John Ross (Parkway). He advised me that he just spoke to the port manager and conveyed the City's total dismay at the port authority's failure to effectively manage the situation and about his decision to block all trucks on N2 and other routes from accessing the harbour, even if it means days or weeks,” Botha said.
“The City manager has agreed with me to request the CPFs (Community Policing Forums) to assist the municipality with traffic control on the John Ross to enable traffic officers to focus on the N2. I have spoken to the Meerensee CPF and they will advise the municipality what action they require to empower them to assist.”
Transnet said in a statement on Wednesday that it was working with the City of uMhlathuze to manage the influx of trucks to the Port of Richards Bay this week.
“The increase in the number of trucks destined for the port has been partially exacerbated by last week’s derailment of a train on the North Corridor, which led to a partial closure of the railway line in the affected areas,” the parastatal said.
“Transnet has activated contingency plans jointly with the City of uMhlathuze, with effect from the evening of 15 November 2022. The contingency plans include stopping and holding road motor transport (RMT) on the N2, clearing the city and other affected areas by pulling all RMT into every available area in the port using the west gate, and the use of the east gate for evacuation,” Transnet said.
It said the port had also implemented a “colour-coding-based” truck calling process that had been implemented and managed collaboratively with customers.
“Additional staging areas have been operationalised inside the terminal. Pulling of trucks from the public roads into the staging areas as well as offloading areas has commenced. The terminal has beefed up offloading capacity in order to deal with the congestion,” Transnet said.
It added that RMTs calling for vessels already in the port, or which were expected to berth within the next seven days, would be prioritised.
“Transnet is working together with customers to ensure port efficiency, and also prioritising the safety of its employees and the community.”
Last week it declared force majeure on the Northern Corridor after a train carrying coal to the port was derailed on Tuesday, leading to a massive clean-up to remove 97 wagons and cargo from the line.
