The proposed dualling of Lower Dorp Street in Stellenbosch has been met with criticism from members of the community, with concerns ranging from traffic congestion to the historical significance of the area. The Stellenbosch Municipality claims that the road widening is part of a transport strategy to alleviate traffic in the Central Business District (CBD) and provide access and benefits to local businesses. However, readers, in letters to Eikestadnuus, have raised several issues with this claim.
One concern raised by the Stellenbosch Ratepayers Association (SRA) is that the approved spatial development framework for the Adam Tas Corridor (ATC) speaks of a pedestrian-friendly environment with innovative mobility solutions. “This suggests that widening Dorp Street may not be necessary and that sustainable traffic proposals could be implemented without the proposed road widening,”says Deon Carsten of the SRA.
According to the SRA the first public consultation sessions for the widening of Dorp Street took place in 2016, years before the first mention of the ATC in council meetings or municipal public statements. Some readers feel that it is disingenuous to suggest that the widening of Dorp Street is a plan to support the ATC.
The municipality also claims that the widening of Dorp Street will provide better access to local businesses. However, says the SRA, the reality is that the municipal plan will deny access for some long-existing businesses. “For example, one will not be able to turn right out of a widened Dorp Street to have coffee at Ya-Ya Café. This raises questions about which local enterprises will have better access from the widened Dorp Street.
“The municipal statement refers to a strategy to alleviate congestion in the CBD. However, it is unclear on the specifics of this strategy and whether it will implement successful techniques to combat congestion or merely bring more single passenger cars into the town centre,” Carsten says.
Readers say the road widening will lead to an increase of 30-50% in the motorized vehicle and heavy-duty vehicle traffic on Lower Dorp Street, causing more congestion in the already crowded CBD.
“The proposed traffic signal lights at the Stadler Street-Dorp Street intersection will create more stop-start traffic, and the installation of these traffic lights will increase traffic congestion, causing traffic to back up onto the R44,” another reader says.
Readers suggest that alternatives to the current dualling of Lower Dorp Street should be considered, such as the Technopark bypass, the Western bypass, and the Alexander Street intersections that will bypass traffic away from Dorp Street and not into the CBD and enhance the area as a tourist hub with walkways and non-motorized transport. It could increase income and property valuations for the municipality.
The Municipality said it takes note of the letters from affected parties/residents and appreciate their valued inputs and maintain it will engage with all affected parties to find workable solutions for all stakeholders involved. “Our main aim is to alleviate traffic congestion in this already busy part of town and every solution to improve access to businesses in this area will be considered,” says Stuart Grobbelaar, municipal spokesperson.
In the meantime, Grobbelaar says, affected parties are encouraged to send their inputs to their Infrastructure Department: Engineering.Services@stellenbosch.gov.za.
