Ward 134 councillor’s motion to save roads during festive season
BOSKRUIN – She said that rain is one of the main contributory factors that worsen existing potholes and the months of December and January are well known for their high rainfall.
Ward 134 councillor Wendy Alexander successfully tabled a motion in the City of Johannesburg’s council meeting on 28 October regarding the annual shutdown of the Johannesburg Roads Agency’s asphalt plant during the festive season.
She noted that every year, the JRA shuts down their asphalt plant from around the middle of December to the second week in January.
“This shutdown leaves the roads in the City of Johannesburg unattended to in terms of maintenance. It takes JRA approximately six to eight weeks to catch up on outstanding issues, which increases during this shutdown period,” said Alexander.
She said that rain is one of the main contributory factors that worsen existing potholes and the months of December and January are well known for their high rainfall.
“As per the first-quarter report in the 2019/20 period, it is noted that the JRA’s asphalt plant is performing poorly, operating at less than 50 per cent of its capacity. This poor performance has resulted in an internal audit finding on the department,” she added.
She recommended to the council, ahead of the 2020/2021 budget planning cycle, that the asphalt plant will not close during the festive season but has a standby team on duty to assist with pothole restoration and reinstatements. This would exclude public holidays.
“I was successful in having it supported and approved. The asphalt plant will no longer close for the festive season which is a huge win for Joburg Roads during the rainy season,” she concluded.
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