Residents of the areas below the R562, to the west of the R55 and known Sun Valley (Midrand) are under threat of an illogical road closure due to what appears to be corruption and collusion between Gauteng Roads Department and developers in the area.
The R55 is finally receiving a much needed upgrade to a dual carriageway (main arterial) but at the same time the Gauteng Roads Department has seen fit to ignore the rights and needs of the community as to access and egress to this proposed upgrade. Protea road provides the main access to the R55 on the eastern side of Sun Valley for approximately 25% of all residents and many horse riding liveries and clients of the area. There are world class show jumping and dressage venues that also make use of this access and egress point.
The Roads Department's excuse to close this main access is that a proposed highway (the PWV5) will eventually affect this access point. (The likelihood of this tolled highway ever being built in any event is slight due to both cost and environmental implications) However, their alternative, to use Karee road and a servitude (to be built) is also compromised by these future highway plans and as such the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the Gauteng Roads Department is colluding with developers for an alternative requirement not privy or transparent to this community
There are over 450 horses in Sun Valley of which at least 60% are owned by people in the city who come out here to ride and compete. They too use Protea Road as one of the main entrances to this area. Traffic along Protea already outweighs the flow along Karee road by a factor of approximately 40:1 and as such there is little logic to reroute the traffic from the eastern side of Sun Valley to this proposed servitude towards Karee. All the properties along Village, Coach, Trotting, Gallop and Huntsman roads to the west of the R55 have their main access along Huntsman and Protea to the R55. Karee is not a direct or logical alternative route to the west of Sun Valley. (See map)
For more information, please go to http://www.svra.org.za/R55Upgrade detailed explanations and maps on this proposed upgrade and the full argument as to why this road should not be closed as the main access/egress point for Sun Valley residents
Thank you for your support
The Sun Valley Residents Association
To the MEC for the Gauteng Department of Roads & Transport
This petition intends to show extended support in keeping Protea Road open when the R55 is upgraded as the alternative is both illogical, not cost effective and against the needs and wishes of the community that it serves.
Your truly
All the undersigned
