How truck congestion is affecting Umbilo

DEGRADED INFRASTRUCTURE, NOISE

- KAREN SINGH [e-mail]

TRUCK congestion on Bayhead Road in Durban: Residents of Umbilo voice their frustrations as delivery vehicles flood the area, impacting quality of life and local businesses.

(I DOCTOR NGCOBO Independent Newspapers)

RESIDENTS in Umbilo and surrounding areas have voiced their frustration over the growing issue of truck congestion, citing significant impact on their quality of life, property values and local businesses.

Jonathan Erasmus, from the Umbilo South Association and member of the CPF said trucking had been a significant issue in this part of Durban and had increased tenfold since the railways collapsed.

Erasmus said that when Umbilo Road got congested, the traffic started filtering through Bartle Road, which was the main road in Umbilo.

“When we've got heavy congestion, I can count up to about 24 trucks coming past my house in a given day. That’s a significant amount for a residential road,” he said.

Erasmus said trucks were destructive vehicles that broke the trees and paving.

He said Hillier Road by Queensmead Mall, which T-junctions with Bartle Road, had a serious problem with trucks.

Trucks park on both sides of the road, blocking the entire area. Many of them carry flammable substances like fuel and liquefied petroleum gas.

“People who live right there can’t exit their properties and there are properties that have devalued significantly,” said Erasmus.

He said crime in the area had increased because when the truck drivers stopped to get food and other necessities, truck batteries, among other things, got stolen.

Erasmus said despite years of lobbying by the CPF and Umbilo South Association, Metro Police had only recently increased ticketing for trucks in the area, offering a temporary “plaster” solution to persistent congestion.