Could this be Fontainebleau’s worst intersection?

FONTAINEBLEAU - Numerous problems plague the intersection of Percy Road and Maria Street.

August 26, 2016

Amy Ingram 2 minutes read

Water slowly bubbled from a leak caused by contractors on Maria Street.

At the moment, Fontainebleau is a suburb of excavations, as Vumatel digs trenches to lay fibre optic sleeves; however, one intersection has been severely affected by the construction.

The intersection of Maria Street and Percy Road have not been the same since the end of July, when Vumatel subcontractors allegedly burst a water pipe on both sides of the intersection and in another two places on Percy Road.

Excavations on one corner of the intersection have also left the stop-street sign lying on the ground. Sand from excavations have also covered the painted stop sign on the road, which has caused a potential hazard for those who are not familiar with the area and do not stop at the intersection.

To add to this problem, the street lights on and around the intersection have not been working for the last four months, according to local resident, Kobus Oosterhuizen. At night, Oosterhuizen added that the street is dark with only moonlight providing some visibility.

Visibility from the now non-existent stop street has also been compromised by pipes left on site by Vumatel. To make matters worse, sewage flowed for a number of days from the manhole in the middle of the intersection.

Fortunately, Oosterhuizen added that the water leaks and sewage block has been repaired in the last 10 days. Joburg water was unable to comment or confirm before time of publication. “It is still an accident waiting to happen. All we need now is for the road and stop sign to be reinstated,” said Oosterhuizen.

Bertha Peters-Scheepers, operations manager of marketing and communications at Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) confirmed, “The JRA team from Region B has inspected the said area and there is currently no visible water leakage; however a wayleave has been issued to a contractor who is currently installing optic cables, and this could explain the digging. JRA will manage the enforcement of the wayleave conditions and ensure the road is reinstated for safe travel,” she said.

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