The Johannesburg Roads Agency said it would redesign Wilgeboom Avenue and its underground drainage to deal with storm water runoff, and also reconstruct the layers of the pavement of the Boskruin Road.
This after Randburg Sun published two articles about the street. From January, puddles of stagnant water had formed with algae growing in them and grass had grown in patches on the street itself. The road looks and smells like a swamp.
When Ward 101 councillor Ralf Bittkau looked at the street he immediately saw signs of a sinkhole forming – the broken tar wobbling and shaking beneath his feet. He blamed groundwater for this and said simply redirecting it into a storm water drain instead of onto the road, would solve the problem.
Five months after the road started breaking up, the roads agency’s storm water engineers finally inspected the site.
“Findings indicate that the prevailing groundwater beneath this section of road between Fisant Avenue and Swaeltjie Road has resulted in ponding, potholes and rutting of the road surface,” said agency spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers.
“To alleviate the issue, the road section requires a redesign to effectively deal with storm water runoff and also reconstruction of the road pavement layers which are compromised by the groundwater. In the medium to long term, a request will be made for funding to redesign and reconstruct the road section which will include sub-surface drainage.”
Until then, the agency would replace the top asphalt layers which have become saturated with water, and channel storm water runoff into a kerb inlet if needed.
“This temporary project will be undertaken during the upcoming winter months in preparation for the year’s next rainy season in October/November.”
Residents Christina Owen and Jeanette Pestana expressed their frustration at the state of Wilgeboom Avenue which saw the area’s security patrol vehicle become stuck in the mud a few times.
Related Article:
