Edenvale stormwater infrastructure damaged in 2016 floods scheduled for repairs

The damage inflicted to the stormwater infrastructure near the Engwena Street bridge by the 2016 floods will be repaired in the coming weeks.

The latest repairs will be done almost seven years after the floods.

Ward 18 Clr Heather Hart said that despite repairs to the area after the floods, more repairs were needed.

Also read: FULL REPORT: 2016 floods exacerbated by culvert blockage

“The damage from the floods was not too excessive, but with the ongoing rains and flooding, part of the bank collapsed. That section was repaired.”
Hart said after the repairs, a portion of the bank between the repaired gabions and the bridge started to erode.

“With hindsight, it should have been done at the time, but it seemed stable.”
The project, starting in two weeks, is part of Ward 18’s integrated development plan and should be completed by the end of June.

Also read: Lack of attenuation increases risk of floods

She said the new project would see additional gabion baskets installed to connect the bridge and existing baskets.
This will prevent further erosion to the channel’s eastern bank and the business property on the same side.

Hart said since last January, erosion had caused the bank to deteriorate over time and during heavy rainfall.

Also read: Rains cause floods just days after Humphreys’ warning about blocked stormwater drains

She said on the western side of the servitude, the plan is to extend the embankment wall to divert the water from the channel’s bank.

Debris, such as bricks and collapsed walls, will be removed from the servitude.

Hart said the municipality had responded swiftly to the matter.