It’s been a long time coming but the final hurdle in the rehabilitation of Emmarentia Dam is fast approaching.
Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) spokesperson, Bertha Peters-Scheepers said that the rehabilitation work at Emmarentia Dam is on track for completion at the end of April.
“We are pleased to report that following a meeting with the community, it was decided that the project scope be slightly extended to include improvement of existing fences along the dam wall, revamping of the lamp posts, the erection of a new wall along constructed gabions, and general surface improvements to Olifants Road,” said Peters-Scheepers.
She added that while in the short term road users will be inconvenienced by an extra month – until the end of May, their engagement with the community has shown an overwhelming support for these additional items, which will benefit the community.
“We thank residents for their patience and understanding while this essential project has been underway,” said Peters-Scheepers. She expressed that they were confident that the integrity of the dam is now secure and they look forward to the opening of Olifants Road at the end of May.
She further divulged that overall project progress is at 95 per cent completion. “Trees have been cut, storm water repairs are completed and the rehabilitation of Ogee Spillway has also been finalised,” said Peters-Scheepers. She went on to add that the Spillway return channel rehabilitation is 97 per cent complete as gabion baskets and reno mattresses are being replaced and upstream slope protection work is 90 per cent complete.
She concluded that the project which commenced in April 2015, and was scheduled for completion in January 2016 was extended to accommodate the re-routing of an unmarked gas pipeline traversing the dam wall along Olifants Road. “For safety reasons, the project could not proceed until the gas pipeline was securely re-routed away from the construction area, which led to the unforeseeable delays.”
Details: Johannesburg Roads Agency, hotline@jra.org.za or 0860 562 874.
Related Stories: Olifants road still closed
