Updates have finally been received regarding two construction projects that have had residents hot under the collar for quite a while – the collapsing section of Nick Toomey Boulevard and the collapsed South Road Bridge.
Nick Toomey Boulevard was officially closed at the end of June and, unfortunately, will remain closed well into next year. The damage caused to the road by illegal mining led to its closure owing to the risk of it collapsing. René Benjamin, the Ward 71 councillor, informed residents that there were difficulties in rehabilitating the road because the illegal mining activities are continuing.
The road is set to remain closed until the Johannesburg Roads Agency has sufficient funds to repair it, which can unfortunately only be budgeted for in the next financial year, which starts in July 2020.
René said the problem has extended to Hebel Street in Roodepoort West, and while Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department and Roodepoort Police are continuously working on stopping the illegal miners through joint operations, residents are asked to avoid both areas.
Read more here:
https://roodepoortrecord.co.za/2019/05/03/print-south-road-construction-to-finally-commence-web-dont-miss-the-deadline/
The South Road Bridge issue has also been a thorn in the side of many residents and motorists. After approximately three years of the road being closed, construction finally commenced in June. Fifteen Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers are said to be working on the project to get the bridge ready for traffic as soon as possible.
These workers have been recruited from areas throughout Ward 71, including Princess, Davidsonville, Lindhaven and Witpoortjie. According to Mdu Myeza, Client Liaison Officer (CLO) for the project, the small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) that applied for work on the bridge project will also be brought in before the end of (this) November.
The City Power electricity cables and Johannesburg Water pipes running through the construction area had been the cause of the long delays, but the project is now running smoothly. Mdu said that the project is approximately 35 per cent completed. The original completion date was set for March 2020 but has since been moved to April 2020 due to the difficulties encountered.
