Cape Town - Construction will resume on the Chapman's Peak
Drive toll plaza site on Monday, but the department of transport and public
works has agreed to get a specialist to investigate alternative tolling
systems, the Cape Times newspaper reported on Friday.
This emerged after a meeting on Thursday between the
department, Murray & Roberts Holdings [JSE:MUR], toll operator Entilini and the Civil Rights
Action Group (Crag).
The meeting was called after weeks of fierce opposition to
the development from residents and civil groups. The R54m development includes
a two-storey office building for Entilini.
Construction was temporarily suspended on Wednesday amid
safety concerns after two women chained themselves to the scaffolding at the
site.
At the meeting, Crag proposed alternative tolling systems,
with parties agreeing to explore other options but not halting construction.
Crag is proposing a more modern and cheaper tolling method,
and that property in Hout Bay be used to build Entilini's offices.
After the meeting, Terry Wyner from Crag told the Cape Times
that if the parties were ready to enter more detailed discussions on other
tolling methods then Crag would investigate simple and cost-effective methods
used in other countries.
The talks were productive, he said.
“We were given plenty of time to put our thoughts across and some of the questions they asked us were very important, such as how much our alternative tolling methods would cost.”