The upcoming rainy season could deal the final blow to the deteriorating infrastructure in the area. According to a member from the RiverWel Resident’s Association Neville Burnett, one of the biggest concerns is Dolfhout Street.
He said, “We have a beautiful stream that runs through the area and underneath Dolfhout Street. This section of the stream is never maintained and erosion has started to take away soil that supports the road.”
He added that the deterioration can cause the road to collapse. “Cracks have started to appear on the road surface and it’s just a matter of time before the same happens here that happened in Cornelius Street a couple of months ago when a bridge collapsed after a heavy rainstorm.”
Panorama Resident’s Association chairperson Jon Rosenberg added that the road is starting to sink in as well and this is a problem because it is a main arterial road into the suburb.
Burnett said, “The issue has been reported to City Parks and Johannesburg Roads Agency a couple of months ago and they haven’t done anything to rectify the problem yet. If the entities don’t maintain the bridge then a collapse will happen after the next big rainstorm.”
City Parks and the Johannesburg Roads Agency have been asked to comment but nothing was forthcoming by time of going to print.
