Recent floods seem to have affected blue bridge in Delta Park
CRAIGHALL PARK – Recent floods seem to have been a contributing factor to erosion which has, in turn, led to a section of the blue bridge in Delta Park collapsing.
Ward 90 councillor Martin Williams raised concerns over a large section of supporting wall at the pedestrian blue bridge in Delta Park which recently collapsed. The bridge is located near the intersection of Marlborough and Rothesay avenues in Craighall Park.
According to Williams, the bridge itself has not collapsed but, ‘the Braamfontein Spruit will continue eroding the bank behind the wall, at a faster pace and damage to the bridge and the adjacent sewer pipe which crosses the river at the same place may occur’.
He added that on the park side of the bridge, the recent flooding increased erosion behind the gabions, causing them to lean backwards.
Williams said a local civil engineer who went to the site on 16 February reported that the east-side wall, on the outside of the curve, has been undermined and washed away and the gabions on the west side have had their support on the west bank washed away (i.e. behind the gabions). The engineer added that the gabions are falling backwards and their protective effect will be lost.
“The blue bridge serves a vital role for thousands of residents who enter Delta Park from the Craighall Park side. I have written to the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), requesting urgent investigation and action,” said Williams.
Spokesperson for JRA Zoleka Jika said they were still busy with inspections on-site and would revert as soon as they had more information.
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