Approximately four months after PE Express reported about Schauderville residents being concerned that Brown Street Circle has no vehicle access, work has commenced to get the circle tarred and accessible.
In March this year, a resident, Nigel Burger, expressed his concern that if a fire were to break out or something serious went wrong in the tiny circle, emergency vehicles would not be able to get to them since there is no way for them to enter. Up until now, the only entrance to the homes in this circle were 32 steep steps with no driveway or place for vehicles to enter.
Burger was especially worried about the safety of his 87-year-old grandmother who lives in the circle and was in hospital during that time. He added that it was a struggle to get her up and down the stairs.
Ward 11 councillor, Graham Gelderbloem, confirmed that work on the circle, the only one in the neighbourhood still inaccessible by vehicles, had started and referred communication to the client liaison officer on the project, Kurt Campher. According to Campher, the project started on July 19.
“We are currently busy with earthworks in preparation for a road bed followed by road layering. Prior to that, the removal of concrete steps, clearing of excess sand and grass and the identifying of water and electrical underground networking took precedence,” Campher said.
He added that it would take approximately three months for the project to be completed.
“The [circle] is now in existence for +/-80 years and this project will bring forth feelings of happiness, excitement and hope for the community of Ward 11 and prove to them that all is not lost after the COVID-19 pandemic shattered and traumatised so many lives globally.
“Most importantly, these road works will make it more accessible for emergency vehicles to enter the once hostile terrain,” Campher said.
When asked how residents are currently gaining access to their homes since the circle is under construction, he explained that residents are making use of a temporary roadway through a neighbour’s property during the day.
“At night they use the ramp that will be the road to use after completion. This will allow for easy and safe access in and out of the [circle].”
Adding to this, Burger said that the community is very happy with the progress of the project.
“What makes it even more amazing is that jobs have been created for people living in this circle. We appreciate that,” he said.
