Bertha Peters-Scheepers, spokesperson for the Johannesburg Roads Agency said, “A night team was dispatched to close off the drive and thus ensure the safety of residents. Traffic from Riverclub will not be able to use this route to enter Parkmore, and Parkmore residents will not be able to use Coleraine Drive to get to Ballyclaire Drive.”
Ward 103 councillor Vincent Earp said in spite of the article, A sinking feeling, week ending 28 February, the roads agency had taken no action, and now whole sections of the road had collapsed after heavy rainfall throughout the week.
Peters-Scheepers said, “The large sinkhole on Coleraine Drive is cause for concern, and the area has been booked for inspection with the intention of determining the extent of the damage and whether the services of a consulting engineer or a contractor is required.”
One side of the bridge has collapsed into the river, and the only thing holding the rest of the road up is the concrete arch over the river. The pit has been estimated to be about 10 metres across and 10 metres deep. Cable sleeves are visible inside the pit, however these appear to be undamaged. The river can also be seen flowing freely between the stacks of tar and concrete that has fallen into the pit.
“The roads agency could have avoided extra costs if they had fixed the road when they were alerted about the danger years ago. Now it is going to cost millions to repair,” said Earp.
He added that the roads agency has only sent a team to seal off the sinkhole area, but had not erected signs to warn drivers before arriving on Coleraine Drive.
“Drivers only know the road is sealed off when they get to where the sinkhole is, then they have to turn back which is another inconvenience and causes congestion in the area,” said Earp.
“This just goes to show the extent of poor service delivery from the roads agency.”
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Videos:
Ward 103 councillor Vincent Earp speaks to Riverclub resident Giancarlo Dotto de Dauli about the sinkhole on Coleraine Drive here
Watch as Vincent Earp explains how dangerous the problem is, and how the collapse is immanent. This video was filmed two weeks prior to the collapse here
Read our previous stories here and here
