MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Chaos at Verdun Road Level Crossings

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Hello Alan,

Your article, “Level Crossing Awareness Campaign” refers.

My experience with Transnet is that they are not really interested in level crossings on a regular basis. Likewise my local councillor Rautenbach, except for own publicity when it suits him.

The crossings on the Apple Express line were all changed to Yield signs because the train is not running.

The Yield sign at the railway crossing in Verdun Road going towards Kragga Kamma Road was removed by contractors while doing the road in front of the Kamma Crossing shopping centre.

There was no temporary sign put up (see photo below).

No Sign
No Sign at Verdun Road Level Crossing

The original sign was only replaced six months later, but in the wrong position (see photo below). i.e. very far to the left of where it should be.

Wrong Position
Wrong Position

This was reported on a number of occasions to Transnet, Rautenbach and the Roads and Stormwater management section of the municipality.

No answer was received from any of these parties.

Trucks, taxis, etc  (see photo below) use it as a parking area thereby obscuring the sign anyway.

Illegal Parking
Illegal Parking

I was witness to a motor accident caused by the position of this sign where the driver presumed the road was next to the sign and drove straight towards the Kwikspar (seen in the background in photo below) and realised the road in fact was further to the right plus it turned to the right. She just missed the railway reserve fence but hit the end of the barrier rail outside Kwikspar (see photo below).

Accident
Accident

There has never been a sign to indicate the road turns to the right before the intersection with Kragga Kamma Road.

Regards

Mike

Update: THIS is where the sign should be – a Google Maps Image from September 2009 – click on the image to see if it has been updated.

Verdun Road Level Crossing in September 2009
Verdun Road Level Crossing in September 2009
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