Talk of the Town

ROADWORKER KILLED BY TRUCK AT FISH RIVER BRIDGE STOP-GO

- JON HOUZET

AROADWORKE­R was killed by a truck at the Fish River Bridge stop-go early on Saturday morning. Details of the accident are sketchy, but readers who alerted TotT said the truck had crashed into the stop-go hut, killing one man and injuring others.

In response to TotT’s queries, Sanral Southern Region manager Mbulelo Peterson said: “Sanral is saddened by the accidental death of a worker contracted to maintain the temporary signs and stop-and-go on the R72 at the Fish River Bridge.

“As the fatality is still under investigat­ion we cannot confirm all of the details at this time.”

Peterson said no site activities or constructi­on had taken place over the weekend due to the contractor having a pay weekend.

“However, the Traffic Safety Officer (TSO) and his team were on duty during this pay weekend to maintain the temporary signs and the stop-and-go.”

The accident follows complaints and warnings about haphazard controls at other stop-go’s during the roadworks on the R72, most recently at the Wesley Hill traffic lights intersecti­on.

And a day after the fatality on the Fish River Bridge, reader Rob Bruce-Brand said: “Sanral have not learnt their lesson,” submitting photos showing how the stop sign and flag man at the Fish River Bridge stop-go are obscured by vehicles.

“[The flag man] is supposed to be about 200m up the road toward Fish River Resort,” he said.

In response to this criticism, Peterson said: “Signs on this project are erected according to the South African Road Traffic Signs Manual (SARTSM) – Roadworks Signing. The signs at the Fish River stop-and-go site on the east as well as the west approaches comply with the requiremen­ts with this best practice manual.

“The signs for the stop-and-go start 1000m before the actual closure and ample warning is provided to motorists. The signage on the eastern approach (Fish River Resort) is on a downhill approach and is clearly visible to motorists,” Peterson said.

 ?? Picture: ROB BRUCE-BRAND ?? ACCIDENT SCENE: The stop-go at the Fish River Bridge, where a worker was killed by a truck last weekend. The flagman and stop sign are obscured by the Fiat Uno parked on the roadside
Picture: ROB BRUCE-BRAND ACCIDENT SCENE: The stop-go at the Fish River Bridge, where a worker was killed by a truck last weekend. The flagman and stop sign are obscured by the Fiat Uno parked on the roadside

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