Flooding to be averted

Ferndale residents are advised to take note of imminent traffic disruptions due to important storm-water drainage upgrades on Bond Street.

The development is a 12-month project to help with storm-water drainage along the Klein Jukskei River with construction work taking place from 18 September.

Ward 104 councillor Mike Wood said, “Construction will take place along Bond Street and, unfortunately, there will be traffic disruptions running into the coming year.”

The project was due to have started three weeks ago, but the contractors and the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) had to make sure that every underground cable and water pipe has been accounted for to ensure that construction does not interfere with other infrastructure in the area.

Siphokazi January of the JRA said, “There will be roadworks along Bond Street beginning at York Street. Most of the stoppages will happen on the right-hand side of the road approaching York Street. There will always be a lane open for the public.”

The entrance to Vale Avenue on Bond Street will only be accessible to residents who live on the road.

“All residents in the nearby area have been informed of the disruption,” added January.

Wood highlighted that the upgrades are necessary for the area ahead of the coming rainy season, “Every time it rains heavily, Bond Street often floods due to the ageing infrastructure. This leads to some dangerous and disruptive situations for motorists. Construction of an upgraded drainage system will definitely help to solve that problem.”

January added, “The project is scheduled to take place over a 12-month period, but we hope that it will take place over a shorter amount of time.”

While measures have been put into place to ensure traffic flow during construction, residents are advised to plan alternative routes if they can as a precaution.

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