Residents would have noticed a lot of sand, stone and construction around the bridge on Gertrude Street since March. The buzz is for the benefit of the community as it aims to prevent the river from flooding.
Joburg Roads Agency (JRA) has confirmed that scour protection measures, which include the removal of silt and debris from around the bridge piers, is a central part of this contract due to the proximity of the waterway to residential areas and the volume of the waterway. The clearing of the waterway is to alleviate the flow of water that contributes to the river flooding. There are future plans to address the river capacity problem but the road will have to be closed during that time as the river would require a realignment.
“We have cleared an area which was previously raised with dumped material and garden waste to create easier drainage of water in the event of over-topping. Scour protection measures to the adjacent properties are being installed,” said JRA marketing and communications operations manager, Bertha Peters-Scheepers.
Ward 104 Councillor, Michael Wood, said the construction and rehabilitation of the river are so important because of the damage done when the river floods.
The project is estimated to be finished by the end of May 2016 and will cost JRA R2 816 000 to complete.
Details: Joburg Roads Agency, 086 056 2874.
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