Kenville Road collapse worsens after heavy rains
Anil Beekrum, chairperson for Kenville and Sea Cow Lake Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association, has raised concerns over the structural integrity of the road.
RESIDENTS of Kenville have urged the eThekwini Municipality to act speedily to help fix a section of Kenville Road that has collapsed.
In March this year, a section of the road going towards Sea Cow Lake Road collapsed, reducing the road to one lane.
Last week, heavy rains caused the collapse to worsen and caused a break in the main water pipe feeding the area.
As a result, hundreds of residents were left without water for at least five days.
Anil Beekrum, chairperson for Kenville and Sea Cow Lake Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association, has now raised concerns over the structural integrity of the road.
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“As residents, we’ve been through the collapse on Kew Road which ultimately had to be closed due to it not being safe. We’ve also had to live through five years of the lower end of Kenville Road being closed. My concern now is that with more heavy rains predicted, the precarious situation of the remaining section of road will only get worse. Last week’s collapse brought an added complication when the main water pipeline cracked.
“In the interim, the City had to install a rider-pipe (above ground) temporarily. There are now talks to realign the main pipeline by switching it to the other side of Kenville Road as a way to stop any further road collapses. That whole process could take a few days, and we anticipate it will be several months before the road is restored. We are calling on the municipality to act speedily to avoid any further catastrophes. This area can ill afford another crisis,” he said.
Beekrum’s words were echoed by ward councillor Bobby Maharajh.
“There was a similar situation on Kew Road, and that collapse meant a long-term closure. What worries me on Kenville Road are the faultlines and cracks in the middle section and the remaining lane. I’ve also spoken to senior officials about the realignment of the main pipeline which is a positive step. The concern I have, however, is that the bank on the other side of the collapsed section is made up of shale-like material which is prone to moving. When work to switch the pipeline is being carried out, senior engineers would need to look at reinforcing the bank to prevent any road collapse,” he said.
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