JOHANNESBURG – Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is set to launch the City of Johannesburg’s Roads Rehabilitation and Reconstruction programme on Thursday October 9.
This will be done in conjunction with Transport Month, with an initial budget of R80m as part of its response plan to a Visual Condition Index conducted in 2013, confirming the current state of roads in the City. This forms part of the JRA’s R5,6bn budget for the period 2014 to 2016, as approved by the City of Johannesburg for various capital projects. This is over and above the JRA’s operational budget allocated for routine road infrastructure maintenance across the City.
“The JRA has introduced a structured approach to road management that prioritises the preservation of existing infrastructure, keeping it in good condition and not allowing it to deteriorate to poor condition,” confirms Skhumbuzo Macozoma, JRA Managing Director, “Consequently following a Visual Condition Index assessment of the entire City’s road network, the City of Johannesburg, through the JRA has implemented a response plan.”
The rollout of the response plan to the Visual Condition Index, started in 2013 with the launch of the City’s roads resurfacing programme. The programme required R1bn over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and is adequately funded. R140m was spent during 2013/14 and the budget for 2014/15 is R190m. The road resurfacing is an ongoing programme of works and forms part of the City’s continued commitment to investing in and improving the road network of the City of Johannesburg.
The JRA is now finalising city-wide bridge inspections, and the bridge repairs programme also forms part of the response plan. This year R65m is budgeted for bridge expansion joints and overtopping of bridges in Soweto and the construction of the new Naledi Bridge.
Furthermore, the entity has commenced a stormwater infrastructure audit to inform a repair programme that also forms part of the response plan. Over R100m will be spent within this financial year on various stormwater projects across the city.
“The JRA has successfully developed a five year strategy for road network management, has conducted infrastructure audits, is upgrading Road Asset Management Systems, and is now rolling out a structured response plan to the current condition of roads in the city. A draft 10 year roads plan has also been developed and will be finalised soon.
“The JRA wishes to reassure citizens that attention is being given to the day to day issues as well as long-term road needs. Citizens are encouraged to continue using the successful JRA Find and Fix App to report road-related defects, so that together we can work towards ensuring our city’s roads are accessible, safe and liveable for our communities,” added Macozoma.
