After 50 years of waiting, the community of Cliffview Avenue in Mountview finally have their road tarred. Residents said before the modifications were made, the road leading to their homes were rocky, sandy, uneven and unsafe.
The community’s eldest resident, Kanna Archary, who lived in the area for 47 years, said there is not a single resident who hasn’t fallen and hurt themselves on the road. “Before the tar, our road was terrible. We made so many requests to get our road sorted but it all fell on deaf ears. Although it took a long time and a lot of effort from our councillor it was worth the wait. Our road is now beautiful.” The 80-year-old resident said the comparison of what the road was like before the modification and its current state is “miles apart”. “I have fallen a number of times and gotten hurt. When it rains the area becomes so muddy it’s almost a miracle not to fall.” Archery expressed his disappointment with the municipality. “We approached a number of people and made a number of requests but nobody wanted to help us. We didn’t think our road would ever be tarred but we’re so happy now that it has been done.”
Haniffa Beemuniff, a resident for 45 years said she raised her family in Cliffview and calls the area her home. “I love this area and this community. Seeing these upgrades makes me very happy. Before the tarred road things used to be so difficult. There were big bushes around and on rainy days we couldn’t go to the bus stop. It was hard not to fall because the road was muddy and slippery.” The 76-year-old resident said she slipped and fell on rainy days on many occasions trying to reach the bus stop on time. “I once slipped and hurt myself so badly I had to get 15 stitches on my forehead. We know our hardships and why we appreciate this road so much. We are so grateful for these upgrades. The road is done so beautifully, we can actually run for the bus without the fear of falling.”
Councillor Johnson Chetty said the municipal Roads Provision Department had provided a budget based on his request in 2017 for Greenfield Way. “However, due to miscommunication within the department the road could not be rehabilitated because it had no formal road name. I then requested the department to transfer the budget to another deserving road which was Cliffview Avenue.” Chetty said the gravel road used to cause an inconvenience to the residents who are generally very elderly. “The residents were continually subjected to dust, mud when it rained and vehicles sliding as well. The project was fraught with serious challenges. The contractor had under-quoted for the project and failed to adhere to his contractual obligations. There were stoppages continually due to workers not being paid on time. To conclude the project, I had engaged a local business owner who signed a contract with the municipal authorities to finance and finish the project. Despite all the challenges, I am pleased that the gravel road, which had existed for 50 years, was replaced. Furthermore, the stormwater channels were upgraded which will eliminate the historical flooding complaints. I am grateful to the residents for their patience during the protracted construction process.”
