Pedestrians angered by crumbling pavement infrastructure
MELROSE ESTATE – Residents who walk regularly in the area are concerned about the unsafe state of the pavements along Glenhove Road and across the bridge.
Pedestrians are aggrieved by the poor state of the pavements before and on the Glenhove Bridge in Melrose Estate.
Birdhaven resident of 25 years Pippa Smith is angered by the rate at which the infrastructure is crumbling.
Smith walks down Glenhove Road and over the Glenhove Bridge regularly but feels concerned about the safety of herself and others who walk this route.
“The road is subsiding and cars shift over into the street into oncoming traffic or into pedestrians who cannot walk on the pavement,” said Smith.
An incomplete project to fix a water pipe on the pavement on Glenhove Road between Somerville Avenue and the Glenhove bridge has left the pavement unwalkable.
Black wattle and other weeds have overtaken parts of the pavement before the bridge, also making it impossible to walk on the pavement.
Smith said she has previously hired workers to remove the weeds, but cannot afford to continue this.
On the bridge, an exposed manhole now has weeds growing inside of it, proving to be another danger for pedestrians.
Smith said she and other residents have brought these issues to the attention of the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) but to no avail.
Another resident, Debbie Firer, said from Somerville Avenue to 4th Street in Melrose Estate, there is no place for residents to walk on the pavement.
“This is an accident waiting to happen. It is very unsafe to walk. There are uncovered manholes and a storm water drain concrete slab that is also unsafe to walk on. It’s like a death trap,” said Firer.
She too has reported the issue numerous times to the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), but only receives reference numbers.
“The state of the pavement is deteriorating rapidly with litter, human waste and overgrown bushes,” added Firer.
Not only workers but also pedestrians pushing prams to the nearby synagogue are endangered by the poor state of the pavement, according to Firer.
Ward 74 councillor Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said she has brought the issues, which are of serious concern, to the attention of the JRA and the MMC for Transport.
JRA spokesperson Mosa Makhalima said fibre optic cables were being installed and the roads agency was uncertain whether this project was complete. Joburg Water had also conducted work on-site and the agency was in the process of ascertaining whether this work was complete and whether Joburg Water required the agency’s assistance on the site. JRA intends on conducting a thorough site inspection on March 14.
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