Update: City responds to the closure of Nicol Road

The City of Ekurhuleni has attributed the inaction on Nicol Road stormwater to the lack of funding.

ALSO READ: Sagging Nicol Road leads to closure

The closure of this road has caused frustration among residents and motorists. There’s no telling when the metro will take action.

CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said, “The stormwater system pipes collapsed, disjointed and sagged due to ageing and insufficient intake capacity. The stormwater system will be rehabilitated once funds are allocated for this purpose.

“The city is faced with increasing public needs for which funds are limited.”

Ward 20 Clr Jill Humphreys had previously told Bedfordview and Edenvale News that the metro has been unable to affect the necessary repairs to the culvert and in the interest of safety, closing the road is the only option.

The civil group, Better Bedfordview, have also shared their thoughts on the matter by calling on residents to be active and vocal.

ALSO READ: Crumbling Nicol Road is a disaster waiting to happen

The organisation’s Marina Constas said the way the matter has been dealt with has been ‘quite abysmal’.

“For months, our councillor has been sending emails to relevant departments without any feedback. We have been given a message throughout these six to eight months that there’s simply no budget for this.

“Therefore, we are calling on residents who are fed up with this situation to contact the city manager as we are giving the council huge amounts of money through our rates and taxes,” she said.

She said this bridge needs to be fixed and that the heads of department needed to act with a greater sense of urgency.

Residents have since been advised to use van Buuren, Kloof and Boeing West Road as alternative routes in the interim.