Westgate pedestrians: Walk safely in August
The JRA gives Westgate pedestrians some hope for a safe August.
Pedestrians crossing Ontdekkers Road opposite Westgate will be safe as of the beginning of August, according to the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).
In response to the Record’s investigation of claims that a newly installed pedestrian crossing on Ontdekkers Road is unsafe, the JRA’s Ntsikelelo Ngubeni gives the assurance that the pedestrian crossing will be fully operational by Friday 2 August.
His press release contradicts Westgate’s marketing manager Nick Scott’s claims that Westgate management “had nothing to do with it”. Ngubeni says in his press release that “Arup Consulting Engineers, as appointed by the Westgate development, approached the JRA with a request for to install a signalised pedestrian crossing on Ontdekkers Road [sic]”.
Ngubeni told the Record that the installation of such a pedestrian crossing was motivated by the large number of pedestrians that cross the busy Ontdekkers Road in that area on a daily basis.
“The JRA Traffic Engineering Services Department agreed to the installation of the said pedestrian traffic signals.”
Ngubeni explains that to date Arup Consulting Engineers has submitted the traffic signal designs and that JRA has approved it.
“It is envisaged that the traffic signals will be operational by Friday 2 August.”
The Record certainly will follow up on these claims.
Ngubeni invites residents to report any road-related service defects, theft, vandalism and fraudulent activities to the JRA call centre on 0860 JOBURG (562 874) or to email their hotline at hotline@jra.org.za. Residents also can use the Tip-Offs Anonymous hotline on 0800 00 25 87 or email at anticorruption@tip-offs.com.
