The state of Union Street in Alberton North has been a persistent source of frustration and stress for businesses in this bustling business hub for over a decade.
Once a thriving commercial corridor, Union Street has become notorious for its worsening infrastructure, significantly impacting daily operations and business owners’ financial stability.
The street has consistently declined in quality for more than 10 years. Potholes, uneven pavements, a lack of stop signs, insufficient traffic lights and inadequate drainage have led to an increasingly problematic environment for businesses that rely on steady customer traffic and smooth access.
Business owners have repeatedly voiced their concerns, claiming the street’s poor condition deters potential customers and creates hazardous conditions for deliveries and commuting.
According to one business owner in the hub, Erika Potgieter, Union Street’s state is beyond frustrating because a month does not pass without a collision in the area. This problem worsens each day because the road keeps deteriorating.
Potgieter said what is most concerning for them is that they sent emails for over 10 years and never received responses from the CoE in addressing the situation.
“The problem is compounded by the street’s age and the lack of effective maintenance over the years. Many local businesses have invested their resources in temporary fixes, such as patching potholes and improving signage to alert drivers to the hazards. However, these efforts have only provided short-term relief,” she said.
The City of Ekurhuleni
The Alberton Record has spoken with city officials, who acknowledged the issue but have struggled to address it comprehensively.
The record sent a query to the CoE, and its spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini, replied with a previous official comment they had provided regarding the matter despite the new information from complainants.
The comment sent by the city on May 28 said they rehabilitated the road in 2022 to extend its lifespan. Initially, it was designed as a class 3 road with flexible road layers, meaning it was meant to carry light to medium-size delivery vehicles and trucks.
“The Department of Infrastructure is in the process of acquiring the services of the consulting traffic engineers through a tender process in the next financial year (2024/25). Then, the department will investigate the traffic concerns, and the report from the service provider will determine traffic measures and upgrades for implementation,” Dlamini said.
Furthermore, he said the department does reactivate maintenance when a pothole or surface damage is reported.
Arising queries
The Alberton Record then sent another mail with follow-up queries based on the comment provided.
The Record sent a query with seven questions for comment, but the CoE only answered three.
Dlamini said they have not yet appointed a service provider. The city’s new financial year only started on July 1. However, the appointment of the traffic engineers is in the 2024/25 financial year’s procurement plan/demand management plan.
“Once the city has appointed the traffic engineers during the 2024/25 financial year, they will prepare a report indicating how to address such concerns,” Dlamini said.
In the meantime
Dlamini said they would comment on the unaddressed queries in the arising matters once they have information from relevant departments.
More follow-up questions were sent to the city for comment to try and solve a problem more than a decade old.
In the meantime, businesses are left to navigate the daily challenges the deteriorating street poses. Many have resorted to creative strategies to mitigate the impact, such as offering special promotions to attract customers despite the inconvenience.
The continued deterioration of Union Street serves as a stark reminder of the broader challenges facing urban infrastructure and the crucial need for timely and effective maintenance.
As local businesses wait for long-promised repairs, they hope the ongoing dialogue with city officials will soon translate into tangible improvements that can restore the street’s vitality and support the community’s economic health.
