The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has issued a statement which outlines its plans to handle summer rains and possible floods that may occur in different areas around Johannesburg.
The rains and flooding usually affect mobility within the city and the resultant high risk to communities, especially the informal settlements, during this time of the year.
Earlier this year, severe flooding required R60 million to repair the city’s damaged road infrastructure network, including potholes and storm water drains, and repairs and rehabilitation of nine bridges and culverts.
JRA’s Flood Management and Storm Water Plans involve the proactive and reactive maintenance of kerb inlets, identification of flooding hotspots, clearing of channels and culverts; clearing of low-lying bridges, as well as the review of flood line management plans.
“The City has identified and mapped high flood-risk areas, and developed mitigating plans which include implementation tactics that proactively address hotspot areas. We have duly inspected recurring blockages in the areas which are termed as ‘flooding hotspots”. We are monitoring low-level bridges, and dangerous river crossings, as well as fencing off dangerous open storm water channels and canals,” says JRA managing director, Skhumbuzo Macozoma.
The flooding hotspot areas identified by the JRA include, but are not limited to, the suburbs of Soweto, Diepsloot, Ivory Park, as well as Industria, and
North Riding.
Home owners along the Klein Jukskei River should also be vigilant of raised water levels and overtopped bridges.
The JRA also monitors SA Weather Services warnings of severe weather, including imminent danger of flooding, which is immediately communicated to the regions at risk.
In the event of flooding, members of the public should call the numbers listed below.
The Metro Police and SAPS will also barricade all affected roads.
Residents and road users are encouraged to report all road and storm-water related emergencies during flooding directly to the 24-hour JRA Regional Standby Teams:
Region A 060 960 0764
(Midrand, Ivory Park, Diepsloot, Fourways, Woodmead)
Region B 060 960 0787
(Rosebank, Northcliff, Melville, Auckland Park, Bryanston, Randburg)
Region C 060 960 0762
(Western suburbs, Roodepoort, Florida, Bramfischerville)
Region D 060 960 0779
(Greater Soweto)
Region E 060 960 0760
(Sandton, Alexandria, Houghton Estate)
Region F 060 960 0763
(Inner City, Hillbrow, Braamfontein, Parktown)
Region G 060 960 0771
(Eldorado Park, Ennerdale, Lenasia, Orange Farm)
The JRA encourages residents to report road and storm-water issues to 0860 562 874/ hotline@jra.org.za / twitter @MyJra
Details: Traffic Signals 082 827 8250 JRA’s Bertha Peters-Scheepers Ops Manager, marketing and communications 011 298 5023 or 079 510 4186.
