A while ago I had a good bitching session about a certain bridge that rubbed me up the wrong way. I figure I should also give credit where it's due, and here's a perfect example of the city management using it's brains for once!

Every Durbanite knows the traffic mess that occurs on and below the tollgate bridge. It's an absolute nightmare, especially at peak hours.

The onramp from Berea road onto the N3 (marked A) has been the scene of many accidents, because it's only one lane and about twenty meters long, with traffic either bumper-to-bumper in the slow lane, or taxis flying at “ludicrous speed" over the hill (Spaceballs, anyone?).

There used to be another bridge onramp which started right next to tollgate and snaked down to meet the highway (B). For as long as I can remember, this one has been closed off at the top with big cement blocks, as it was causing massive congestion on the bridge.

The third point of contention is the route from the south side of the bridge towards Ultra Liquors and Westridge Tennis Stadium. Ridge road going south is a really steep uphill and it's only supposed to be one lane, but you always have this long queue of people turning right across the traffic at (D) to go down towards Westridge, so other cars have to nip through on the left. Invariably though, there are people who get stuck behind those that are turning and then cause an accident as they perform highly risky maneuvers to get out the jam.

Well no more! While I was taking these photos I had a quick chat with the site foreman, and he gave me the low-down. He told me the bridge that was the onramp from tollgate (B) is being re-routed to connect up to Westridge, and the onramp from Berea road would be extended to a respectable length with two lanes! From the photos, I envisage that they will probably connect Westridge to the highway somehow, so if you want to get onto the N3 and you're on Ridge road, you can do it without driving all the way around and past Westridge, down to the other dodgy onramp.

So there you have it, so simple you think “why didn't we do that ages ago!" Maybe Soccer 2010 has given the city the kick in the pants it needs to start sorting out the shit that's been irritating us for years.