Infrastructure negligence threatens Union Street businesses
Heavy vehicles are becoming more common on Union Street in Alberton North, which business owners perceive as an existential threat. Daily, heavily loaded and unloaded vehicles are said to become stuck on the road.
Alberton North’s Union Street, once a thriving commercial corridor, has become a distressing example of urban infrastructure negligence, causing ongoing frustration for local businesses for over 10 years.
The street, plagued by potholes, uneven pavements, a lack of stop signs and inadequate drainage, has created hazardous conditions threatening businesses relying on steady customer traffic’s financial stability.
Business owners like Erika Potgieter have deep concerns about the deteriorating conditions.
“A month doesn’t go by without a collision in the area. The road keeps worsening, and we’ve sent emails to the CoE for over a decade with no responses,” she said.
Despite the city’s previous claims of rehabilitating the road in 2022, many businesses have resorted to temporary fixes like patching potholes, which provide only short-term relief.
City officials acknowledge the issue but have struggled to implement any solutions.
In a statement, city spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said traffic engineers would be appointed in the 2024/25 financial year to assess and address the traffic concerns on Union Street. However, he said no service provider was appointed yet, leaving businesses in limbo.
“The city will prepare a report indicating how to address such concerns once traffic engineers are in place,” he said.
As local businesses continue to navigate these daily challenges, many are using creative strategies to attract customers despite the inconvenient conditions.
The ongoing deterioration of Union Street highlights the broader issues of urban infrastructure maintenance and the urgent need for timely action.
The Alberton Record awaits comment on a service provider to address this situation.
