Jo'burg is pregnant!

If every I have seen a pregnant city it must be Jo'burg! You can't travel 2 km without running into roadworks of some kind.

It started with the Neotel cables which were installed in all the main roads late last year. Sold to us as "Best thing that is about to happen to us - reliable and fast Internet from June 2009 and apparently it will be much cheaper." I can't say that I have really noticed a huge difference, it certainly has not become cheaper yet - I live in hope!!

I have just been away for a week's leave to Badplaas (sign of the economic times - a year ago I went to Vietnam for 2 weeks!) and driving back into Jo'burg last week just highlighted it again. I wonder about the planning around this upgrade of the infrastructure, having been a project manager in my previous life (Rand Merchant Bank IT division), we were taught to plan maximum utilization of resources with minimum disruption of current operation. What they seemed to have done is decide which roads need to be worked on and sent a crew to each road, which has now resulted and massive road works all over the city and major traffic jams and at times gridlocked intersections! I wonder if we will just wake up one day to find that all the construction has been completed and all the crews and their machines have disappeared together???

Meanwhile during this time please follow these tips:

• Observe warning and caution signs before entering a construction zone and until you see the one that says you've left the work zone.
• Turn on your lights to make your vehicle more visible.
  
• Expecting the unexpected is a golden rule when traveling through construction zones.
• Avoid abrupt driving manoeuvres.
• Always be aware that vehicles ahead of you may stop unexpectedly and maintain a safe following distance. Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of construction zone accidents.
• Drivers should slow to the posted speed and move to the proper lane as instructed.
• Keep -up with the traffic flow. Motorists can help maintain traffic flow and posted speeds by merging smoothly and not slowing to "gawk" at road work and equipment and crews.
• Obey road crew flaggers! The flagger knows what is best for moving traffic safely in the work zone. A flagger has the same authority as a regulatory sign, so you can be cited for disobeying his or her direction.
• Don't wait until the last minute to merge to the correct lane and use correct merging techniques when changing lanes – use your indicators. Narrow lanes and restricted shoulders make construction zones a common place for lane-change accidents.
• Stay alert for aggressive drivers. If another motorist is aggressively jockeying for position, drivers should let them move on. Challenging another driver encourages road rage and endangers the safety of other motorists and workers in the area.
• Avoid distracting activities. Remaining alert for unexpected hazards is critical when traveling through construction zones. Talking on a cell phone, tuning the radio, eating, reading, or other similarly distracting activities can quickly lead to an accident.
• Watch for construction equipment and workers. Construction equipment entering and exiting a work zone without warning, equipment extending into traffic, and construction crews and flaggers working dangerously close to moving traffic are a few of the hazards to expect.
• Stay alert for obstacles and debris. Construction equipment, signs, and barriers may be located close to the edge of the roadway. Debris from work projects, especially dust, dirt, and gravel, may cause added disruption.
• Be patient, cautious, and courteous. Remember, the work zone crew members are working to improve the road and make your future drive better.

 Ask any pregnant mom how difficult pregnancy is and she can write a book about nausea, swollen feet, not being able to sleep, being uncomfortable, being emotional and irrational, etc. Then ask the mom of a one year old about being pregnant and she will tell you what wonderful and special time it was in preparation for the joy of having this cute child and that it went by in a blink.

I do believe that we will be very thankful when this is over and that we will soon forget the frustrations of this time. I sincerely hope that new improved roads will be worth the wait and frustration during this time!