Mayor launches manhole-cover replacement campaign
Mayor pitches in to repair open manholes
According to the mayor, there are about 4 000 uncovered manholes throughout the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), but the manhole cover replacement project is expected to have them all restored by 15 December.
“Due to manholes left uncovered, as well as years neglect of infrastructure maintenance, 104 deaths were reported during the past year,” said Mayor Herman Mashaba.
This was said during the launch of his city-wide manhole cover replacement project on 10 August, where he not only talked about what he was planning, but showed residents that he was prepared to do the job as well.
Mr Mayor @HermanMashaba cement mixing, unleashing our city wide #Waronmanholes ^NS pic.twitter.com/6sjzjoyaw8
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) August 10, 2017
Mayor @hermanmashaba replacing manholes in CBD, getting down and dirty 🔨🛠#Waronmanholes ^NS pic.twitter.com/aZOhJMDHpK
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) August 10, 2017
He added that the project also formed part of the CoJ’s future network upgrades plan. “This plan aims to improve our road infrastructure, which is an essential component for boosting the city’s economy and creating job opportunities,” Mashaba said.
With this project, the CoJ will be a step closer to reaching its goal of achieving five per cent economic growth by 2021 by ensuring businesses will be able to transport their goods and deliver them to their consumers safely, as well as ensuring the safety of residents while making use of the roads.
“To ensure commuter safety remains a priority, all construction work will carried out during off-peak times during the day. This will fast-track the planned upgrades and ensure there will be minimal impact on pedestrians and road users. This project will also include maintenance to traffic accommodation, relocation of services, road works, road signs and markings,” he said.
To ensure that a comprehensive approach to the maintenance, development and expansion of the road network of the CoJ is taken, the Johannesburg Roads Agency has been allocated a budget of R1,1 billion for the 2017/ 18 financial year, plus a three-year capital budget of R4 billion.
“We have also allocated R105 million towards the installation and repair of broken traffic signals in the CoJ, as well as R79 million to continue with the city’s war against potholes,” said Mashaba.
He said that with these allocations and targets, they are showing residents that the CoJ is committed to improving services, and making their lives easier.
He concluded by thanking residents for their patience while the issue of under-maintained roads was being addressed, and said, “With the decades-long neglect of infrastructure maintenance, many more substantial infrastructure challenges will be experienced; however, we remain committed to delivering the change our residents demanded.”
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