Trucking and ratepayer associations have welcomed the announcement of a Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study towards the construction of a second access road to the Port of Durban.
On Wednesday, “The Mercury” reported that the City had approved a R50 million EIA aimed at helping alleviate truck congestion and to prevent damage to road infrastructure near the port.
A report, presented to the municipality’s Executive Committee was approved for a new memorandum of agreement with Transnet National Ports Authority for a joint implementation of preliminary design and EIA for a second access road to the Port of Durban within the eThekwini Municipality.
The report said the Port of Durban was a key national and municipal strategic asset that generated heavy vehicle activity daily.
Gavin Kelly, the CEO of the Road Freight Association, said they welcomed the news of a second access route to the Port.
“The Road Freight Association has raised concerns about the risk of a single access point to the port as well as a move to a far more efficient manner of evacuating cargo for the last decade. Currently, there is a single road servicing traffic in and out of the port which is by its sheer nature extremely vulnerable to any kind of disaster as was seen during the huge devastation wreaked by the recent flooding.”
Kelly said that a single entry and exit route also increases the length and duration of queues as well as the dwell times for vehicles around the port precinct.
“The association welcomes a second access route as this will improve the situation.”
Bluff Ratepayers and Residents Association chairperson Norman Gilbert said they were happy with the decision to approve an EIA study.
“The congestion at the harbour has become a critical issue that needs urgent attention. Heavily-laden container trucks and tankers frequently use Bluff roads to bypass delays on Bayhead Road, leading to significant disruptions for our residents.
“These trucks often get stuck in narrow residential streets, causing unacceptable delays for residents trying to access their homes.”
Gilbert added that the heavy traffic had led to substantial infrastructure damage, including stormwater drains collapsing under the weight of the trucks and a increasing number of main water pipe leaks along Bluff Road.
Malcolm Hartwell, a director at Norton Rose Fulbright, said the announcement of the EIA had to be welcomed by anybody with an interest in the economy.
“This may be a long-term project and it is not clear where the additional access point will be, but hopefully it will be to the south of the port where the port’s container operations are concentrated. Doubling the number of roads into the container terminal area will have the effect of massively increasing the flow of containers in and out of the port,” Hartwell said.
Jitesh Neerpath, the director of Jetrans Transport, said truck congestion at the port led to significant delays.
“A second route will help alleviate truck congestion and it will be advantageous to companies.”
Rishi Singh, the honorary life president of the Clairwood Ratepayers and Residents Association, said more information needed to be provided about the development of the road.
“Trucks need to be reduced as they cause congestion and damage the roads. However, we need clear information from the municipality about where the road will be and if it will affect residents,” Singh said.
Jacob van Rensburg, the head of research and development at the South African Association of Freight Forwarders, said the approval of the EIA was good news.
“This project, a crucial development that the private sector has long advocated for, must now be fast-tracked. Connecting access roads and major provincial and national roads is essential for smooth and efficient cargo transport operations.”
The Mercury