The Ekurhuleni metro has completed the geo-technical assessment of the sinkhole that developed on Snake Road on November 2, and the assessment has recommended steps to be taken to rehabilitate the road.
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No time frame for repair of sinkhole on Snake Road
According Ekurhuleni spokesperson Themba Gadebe the cause of the sinkhole was as a result of a broken stormwater concrete pipe that had a leakage which led to subsurface mobilisation, washing away all sub-base layers over a period of time, developing an open cavity underneath the tar road.
“With the recent rain received, the concentrated ingress water also opened erosion channels from the surface therefore resulting in the collapse of the surface,” said Themba Gadebe.
The assessment report recommended the following:
• The leaking stormwater line must be excavated and replaced.
• All wet services around this area must also be checked or inspected for leaks and repaired.
• The sinkhole must be properly backfilled and compacted following the engineering standards.
• Road resurfacing should also be done in a way that it won’t encourage ponding of water.
• After this, the road would then be reopened to motorists and the public for use.
“There are also exposed broken stormwater lines inside the sinkhole on the western side of the Southbound Snake Road and hanging electrical cable supplying power to the streetlights.
“For the safety of motorists and the general public, the metro has temporarily closed the road pending rehabilitation by Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport.”
He said: “The area is non-dolomitic, and there is no known sinkhole known to have occurred near this site.
“However, the area has been undermined in the past with mine shafts that remain open, and illegal mining is currently active.”
