THE City of uMhlathuze’s pothole problems will soon be a thing of the past.
Engineers have embarked on a massive road maintenance effort that will over the next two months see 13 urban roads in 10 wards given new life.
The road rehabilitation programme started last week with repair teams moving smartly along Guldengracht – the link road between the Richards Bay CBD and Alton.
‘We have invested about R35-million in this financial year to rehabilitate roads in different areas in our city,’ said Mayor, Cllr Mduduzi Mhlongo.
‘Over the three year budgeting period, we will be rehabilitating more roads as we aim to cover all the affected areas in the city.
‘A sizeable portion of our road infrastructure is aging and worn out with potholes and can no longer cope with the ever increasing volumes of traffic.
“As an industrial city, our roads are constrained and always under pressure, especially those routes with heavy duty vehicles.
‘The City of uMhlathuze is rapidly growing and there is pressure on our roads and other old infrastructure. This calls for our planning to be ahead of time.’
The project will see the creation of jobs for local people and emerging entrepreneurs.
A second phase will begin in July to September in the next financial year.
‘The city would like to alert affected residents and motorists and ask that they bear with the constructors and adhere to the temporary rules during construction,’ said Communications Manager, Mdu Ncalane.
Planned rehab programme (length x width of road):
• Richards Bay Industrial Ward 2 – Guldengracht (500mx7.6m) 31 March–2 April
• Meerensee Ward 1 – Dolfyndeining (450mx8m) 4-5 April
• Empangeni Ward 9 – Cunningham (300mx6.1m) 6-7April
• Empangeni Ward 9 – Aurora Crescent (620mx6.1m) 7-8 April
• Ngwelezane Ward 1- Inkanyamba (1 400mx6.5m) 9-12 April
• Empangeni Ward 9 – Tanner Road (520mx9.8m) 11-15 April
• Empangeni Ward 23 – Main Road (1.750mx15m) 18 April-6 May
• Ngwelezane Ward 28 – Phelendaba Road (800mx 5.5m) 16-19 May
• eSikhaleni Ward 17 – Ihlokohloko (598mx7.8m) 20-23 May
• eSikhaleni Ward 22 – Isakabuli (933mx5.8m) 24-27 May
• Felixton Ward 23 – Orlando Drive (110mx14.8m) 1-3 June
• Nseleni Ward 8 – Ubejane (900mx11m) 6-10 June
• Richards Bay CBD Ward 2 – North Central Arterial (50mx7m) 13-20 June.
For more information contact Mdu Ncalane on 035 9075021 or 076 2926535; e-mail: ncalanevm@umhlathuze.gov.za
