Potholes on R57 and R59 to be fixed

Potholes on the R57 and the R59 that has been a cause of serious concern and damage for road users will at last be fixed with a project, officially launched on Monday 8 August, by the MEC for the Department of Police, Roads and Transport (DPRT), Mr William Bulwane. The team was already on site on Thursday 4 August to prepare the road.
The team will work at the intersection of the R57 and R59, and on the R59 from the Vanderbijlpark off-ramp towards Parys.
According to the department’s spokesperson, Hilary Mophethe, the programme to patch potholes in the Free State, will cover various roads and aims at eradicating potholes on these roads to ensure motorists can travel safely, and without fear of damaging their vehicles.
She said MEC Bulwane wants to make sure that potholes are fixed in the Free State Province within the next six months.
She said the team will start working on the 8th of August and will then move from district tot district.
Potholes deeper than 100mm will first be filled with modified gravel up to 30 mm. Depending on the material that is on the ground, the top three centimetres will then be filled with hot asphalt or cold mix to close all gaps so water cannot penetrate.
Currently the department has a total paved network in excess of 6 696 km, including an identified strategic network of 3 837 km. Furthermore, the department maintains a gravel network of unpaved roads in excess of 22 054 km on secondary roads.
The Department will work together with municipalities and other relevant stakeholders to ensure all affected roads are identified and repaired, she said.
The official launching of the programme will be on Monday on the R57 towards Vaalpark.
There will also be a launching of the programme by MEC Bulwane on Monday morning at the intersection between the R501 and the R59 between Viljoenskroon and Potchefstroom.
Road users are reminded to drive with extreme caution where construction teams are working, and to obey the speed limits and warning signs.