Stapleton Road repairs set to be complete within a week
Stapleton Road has been closed due to damage after the #DurbanFloods.
IT has been two weeks since one of the most frequently used roads in the Pinetown area was damaged by heavy rains and its closure has caused havoc for motorists.
According to principal of Birches Pre-Primary School, Scilla Edmonds, Stapleton Road was problematic before the floods, but a complete closure has been frustrating.
“Many parents have been an hour late or more to drop off their children and we have seen their despair when trying to get to work. We have opened earlier to accommodate them, but it has not made much difference. Being without water and electricity intermittently has also been a huge challenge,” explained Edmonds.
GlenPark Neighbourhood Watch member, Sharman Collins, also shared her frustration regarding the situation which has become unbearable.
“It is taking hours to get in and out of Pinetown, there is not a road that is not congested. The frustrating thing is there is no word from the council as to when the bridge will be repaired. As ratepayers, we want answers. Can someone address us on this situation?,” said Collins.
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A factory next to the bridge was also badly damaged. Owner, Keith Brockton, said he has not only lost thousands and thousands of Rands worth of business, but he also needs to rebuild and start his business all over again. Brockton said it will take at least a month for the company to get back on its feet.
“The factory was one and a half metres under the water after the heavy rains. The water pipe burst and caused my wall to fall over which caused the river water to get into my yard. If the pipe had not burst, I would not have been so badly affected,” he said.
Brockton told the Highway Mail because of the damages to the factory, he cannot get raw material inside the premises. “I still need to clean my yard, there is a heap of rubble and sand that was washed into the yard. It will take me at least a month to start working again and if the customers are not assisted here they will go somewhere else,” Brockton said.
“Due to the municipal strike, the work has been put on hold. “They were suppose to be here last week, but couldn’t work because of the strike. We have been told by the surveyors that it will take 10 days to do temporary repairs.
“They realise that this is an important road and the engineers that I spoke to last week told me they were going to work 24/7 once they get a go ahead from the municipality,” added Brockton.
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Ward 18 councillor Melanie Brauteseth said on Tuesday, 7 May, it is with a sense of relief that she can provide a glimmer of hope.
“The municipality has been able to secure WK Construction, the same company who replaced the main water pipe, to repair the damaged road,” said Brauteseth.
Brauteseth has been advised the repairs should be complete within the next five to seven days.
“As frustrating as this situation has been, I would like to thank motorists for their patience and understanding. Let’s ensure we keep on showing our better selves in traffic and work together,” said Brauteseth.
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