The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has completed the R15 million stormwater upgrade project in Ferndale, Region B, as part of Transport Month’s flagship projects.
The upgrades, located at the corner of Main and Bond streets near the Klein Jukskei River, aim to reduce flooding issues that have affected the area in recent years.
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A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on October 8 with MMC for Transport Kenny Kunene, JRA CEO Zweli Nyathi and members of the JRA board in attendance. The pro
ject, which spanned two phases, saw the installation of 56m of stormwater pipes, 380m of box culverts, stormwater manholes, kerb inlets, road kerbs and paving on Bond Street. The upgraded system is designed to handle a one-in-25-year storm event.
However, the project has not been without its challenges. Ward 104 councillor Emi Koekemoer expressed concerns on behalf of residents. “While we appreciate the effort to improve the stormwater system, the project took longer than the stipulated timeframe and caused several service interruptions,” she said.
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The delay caused frustrations for residents, with water and electricity outages adding to the disruptions. Beyond these issues, a significant security concern had emerged. “The stormwater system was not secured with protective grids. This has allowed criminal syndicates to gain access to the system. A week ago, they entered the culverts from 80 Bond Street and burned cables inside.” She stressed the need for added security measures to protect the stormwater channel from further vandalism.
JRA promised to monitor the situation and explore ways to enhance security around the stormwater system. The agency thanked the residents, road users, and stakeholders in wards 102 and 104 for their patience during the construction.
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