The City of Johannesburg has announced extensive plans to repair flood damage and upgrade roads infrastructure. The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has estimated that a total of R60 million is needed which includes R23 million to repair the damaged road infrastructure network including potholes and stormwater drains and R37 million for the repairs and rehabilitation of bridges and culverts.
“This is due to the higher than average rainfall patterns across the city damaging road surfaces, bridges, culverts and gabions,” explained the entity’s Managing Director, Skhumbuzo Macozoma. The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Mpho Parks Tau announced a three year project which involves a R1.8 billion face lift for Johannesburg road infrastructures. The project includes upgrading of highways and byways, rebuilding and fixing road infrastructures and construction of bridges.
The major beneficiaries of this extensive road upgrade include M1, M2 highways, the major arteries serving commercial hubs such as Sandton and Rosebank, and the Soweto Highway. “The R60 million funds allocated for flood damage will include on-going maintenance, upgrading and replacement of infrastructure with the emphasis on the communities’ immediate needs,” explained Macozoma. Some of the bridges and culverts that have been prioritised include Felstead road in Northriding, Cornelius road over Klein Jukskei River and Niven road in Douglasdale.
This followed on the heels of Joburg hosting the fifth biennial C40 Cities Mayors Summit early in February, where over 60 cities from across the world collaborated to share new insights and drive meaningful, measurable and sustainable action towards climate change. The entity apologised for any inconvenience caused during construction phases. “This is however necessary to ensure safe access to workplaces and resident areas,” Macozoma added.
In addition to the bridge rehabilitation, as a result of the rains, the entity’s team is working seven days a week repairing 12703 potholes, 37545 patchings, clearing, unblocking and performing minor repairs on some 887 storm water drains and ensuring that the City’s 2114 traffic signals are working across the city regions.
Details: Report all road and storm water related issues, including potholes to 0860 562 874 or email hotline@jra.org.za or on twitter @MyJra.
