PHOTOS: Hendrik Potgieter Road collapse – closed until further notice

The section of Hendrik Potgieter Road – which showed signs of fracture on Monday – collapsed on Tuesday after recent floods damaged the stormwater channel.

Ward 97 councillor Jacques Hoon said the section between Johan Road and Zandvliet Road in Little Falls has been closed until further notice.

Hoon said Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) is at the scene “to direct traffic and to ensure road users’ safety”.

The road collapsed due to structural damage to the underground storm channel; caused by severe weather conditions and heavy downpours over the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, Councillor Zoné Hughes visited the site on Tuesday, joined by representatives from the Gauteng Department of Road and Transport, and the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).

Hughes confirmed a contractor and engineer would be joining them today to inspect the road.

Major delays due to traffic congestion are expected along this route.

Motorists are advised to use alternate routes.

She said: “They are also trying to get more measures in place to ensure that no one passes the barriers”.

Hoon said: “The stormwater bridge underpinning the road suffered damage due to the high flow of water during last week’s storms and heavy rainfall.

He confirmed the crack section extended across two lines, which left the remaining two lanes functioning as single lanes for traffic in both directions.

ALSO WATCH: Johannesburg battered by hailstorms

Alternate routes

Residents heading from Little Falls, and Wilgeheuwel towards Willowbrook or Ruimsig could bypass the area by turning left on Johan Road.

Then follow Sterretjie Street, turn left on Van Staden Road and head back towards Zandvliet Road to continue down Hendrik Potgieter.

Do note: Traffic will likely be congested throughout the day, even when using alternate routes, due to closed lanes and construction work at The Falls Lifestyle Estate.

This follows after Hoon confirmed on Monday afternoon that the two lanes heading towards Clearwater Mall would be closed due to the fracture on Hendrik Potgieter Road.

He added that the “area needs to be demarcated and attended to urgently”.

“This narrowing of the road will cause severe traffic congestion and the use of alternative routes is advised, especially during peak traffic,” Hoon warned at the time.

Elsewhere in Roodepoort, the Hamberg Dam also suffered structural damage as the dam reached maximum water capacity.