Fight halts B’Bay/Gonubie road

fight halts b’bay/gonubie road

construction of a much-anticipated new four-lane expressway between beacon bay and gonubie has ground to a halt after beacon bay property owners failed to reach an agreement with the council over payment for their land.

property owners say buffalo city has failed to pay them for the access to their land - needed to build the first 16 metres of an extended quenera drive, essential in the link between beacon bay and gonubie.

“we agreed to sell our land to the municipality, but they must pay before they can get access to the land. we also agreed on the amount. they made an offer and we said fine. it’s like getting a new house, you can’t get the keys before you pay,” said one owner who did not want to be named.

the owners said they feared that should they allow access, they might not get their money from the council.

the 850 metre stretch will cost r30.5 million and was initially expected to be completed in october this year.

but the owners said the deadline might not be met because of the delays.

it will follow a south-easterly route towards edge road and the quenera river and pass the triple point development, the new life healthcare beacon bay hospital, ascot park and the breezy slopes property development.

the road is seen as an essential link between the two suburbs to alleviate traffic congestion during peak hours from gonubie.

mpumalanga construction company site manager brett makowem confirmed that the project has come to a standstill because of certain issues that has not been resolved.