Residents in Ruimsig are feeling the strain of a road that is currently being upgraded and resurfaced in the area.
The road that is causing the frustration is Hole-In-One Avenue which has been under construction since January.
Ward 97 councillor Jaco Engelbrecht said the City of Johannesburg gave the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) a budget to repair the road on condition that it is repaired before their financial year-end in July. “They are currently behind schedule but they are making up time and should be finished before the end of July.”
This might be received as good and bad news as motorists have to wait in long queues early in the mornings. JRA worker Mshoza Muelya, whose work it is to direct traffic, explained that motorists tend to get frustrated during peak hour traffic early in the mornings. “Some of the people roll down their windows and ask me why they have to wait so long, and I have to explain to them that I am only here to direct traffic and they should remain calm and patient.”
Engelbrecht said he has received some complaints from residents but explained that it will be beneficial for the community in the long run. “Hole-In-One Avenue and Van Dalen Road are some of the roads that are currently being resurfaced due to the state that these roads have been left in. These roads will boost the image of the suburb after they have been repaired.”
JRA spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers said, “Hole-in-One-Avenue is an existing JRA municipal road which is currently under stress and deterioration due to its age – especially the section starting from Peter Road to the west, opposite the frontages of Ruimsig extensions 96 and 89. The JRA Development Control has to date received township application designs and copy of a traffic impact study for these properties and the plan is to utilise the bulk contribution to upgrade Hole-in-One for now only along frontage of extensionst 96 and 89 and to re-align Peter Road and Hole-in-One intersection.”
She added that motorists should be patient while the road is being repaired by JRA workers.
Details: Ward 97 councillor Jaco Engelbrecht 082 318 6514.
