Dunes at tipping point

ON the M4 highway near othongathi, drunk and speeding drivers are always a threat, but now there is another danger – beach sand.

With the sand dunes in the vicinity apparently on the verge of collapsing onto the single north-bound lane of the highway and the summer rains approaching, Ward 58 councillor Geoff Pullan warned the situation could get worse. If the dunes collapsed onto the highway, motorists would be at risk.

“The road was built close to the sea and this has been an issue since then.

“A few years ago, the municipality tried to ‘replant’ the sand dunes elsewhere, but in the process the vegetation was lost,” he said.

Several motorists have already complained to Pullan. He said the area had been cleared recently, but acknowledged that a more permanent solution was needed. | KARINDA JAGMOHAN

“This is a matter that the Department of Transport needs to attend to, especially with the windy and rainy season coming around,” he added.

The Department of Transport in Kwazulu-natal said they were already handling the problem by sending out teams to clear the roadway regularly. Last week, the road was partially blocked off while tractors removed the sand.

Provincial Transport Department spokesperson Mluleki Mntungwa said: “It’s going to be cleaned on a regular basis, but we will discuss permanent solutions with the municipality. The festive season is coming and the roads will be busy, so we want to ensure all hazardous areas are cleared.”

As part of the festive season road safety operation, he added that there would be an increased police presence on roads in a bid to curb accidents.

The ethekwini Municipality did not respond to queries about the dune danger to motorists.